Beloved ‘Carte Blanche’ presenter Derek Watts dies

Veteran TV host and journalist Derek Watts has died. The well-known former Carte Blanche presenter died on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

In June, Carte Blanche announced that Watts would step away from the camera to focus on his health.

He was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2022, which reportedly spread to his lungs. Earlier in 2023, he was rushed to ICU after a suspected stroke.

“Looks scary, but collapsed with suspected stroke in Hoedspruit 14 days ago and dispatched to super-pro Milpark Hospital ICU,” Watts told fans, posting a photo from his hospital bed. He disclosed that he was diagnosed with “severe sepsis, which destroyed the bod [sic] in an hour” and was learning to walk again.

Watts is survived by his wife Belinda and children, Tyrone and Kirstin.

Watts’s fellow presenter Bongani Bingwa said: “One of the kindest, most generous professionals to ever do it. The room disappeared when he spoke to you. Even as a colleague, he made me feel like I was Mother Teresa. Condolences to Belinda and his children, Tyrone and Kirstin.”

Meanwhile, Netwerk 24 said it had received confirmation of Watts’s death from his daughter.

The publication shared a WhatsApp message from her, in which she said: “We are shattered, he was the most wonderful person we knew. He always thought of others and last night said he wanted to thank all his viewers. He appreciated them and loved his job.”