Former Spur CEO Pierre van Tonder is in a critical condition in a Cape Town hospital after an apparent suicide attempt.
In a statement the Spur Corporation said that the former head of the franchise allegedly shot himself at his Sea Point home.
Spur’s current CEO Val Nichas described the news as shocking and devastating.
“We are doing all we can to support his family. We ask that everyone give his family space to be by Pierre’s side at this most difficult time,” said Nichas.
Van Tonder (62) was MD and CEO of the Spur group for 24 years and retired in December 2020.
He joined the restaurant group in 1982 as a junior restaurant manager, and held several senior management positions before he became a director of Spur Steak Ranches and Spur Holdings in 1992.
During his tenure at the helm, the group expanded from about 40 restaurants to 631 restaurants in South Africa, with a presence in 17 countries.