Cheeky Watson forced to wait for day in court

Cape Town - Former EP Rugby president Cheeky Watson, who is being accused of fraud and money laundering, had his request to stand trial alone turned down by a Port Elizabeth court on Monday.

The case, which involves millions of Rands earmarked for the beleaguered Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) project, but allegedly used fraudulently by Watson and his co-accused, was set to start on Monday (August 20).

Watson is charged along with former assistant director in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s finance department Nadia Gerwel; Zeranza director Andrea Wessels; a former director of Laphum’ilanga Transport Services, Mandisi Mkasa; and former Access Facilities and Leisure Management chief executive Stephan Pretorius.

According to a report on the HeraldLIVE website, Watson was hoping to stand trial alone as he was only facing two charges.

The report added that Watson was ready for his fraud case to start while the others wanted more time to prepare.

Their application for postponement was granted and the trial is now only expected to begin in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on December 10.

Watson stepped down from his role as president of the EPRU in 2017.