Weekend Breakfast with Africa

Kieno Kammies speaks to journalist and author Mandy Wiener about Marc Batchelor’s alleged friendship with figures in South Africa’s underworld.

The former football player was gunned down and killed on Monday night while driving outside his home in Olivedale.

Witnesses saw two gunmen on motorbikes. It seems they were waiting for Marc Batchelor to pull in to his house in Olivedale...and we understand his gardener was with him. They opened fire with what seems to be semi-automatic weapons.

— Mandy Wiener, Journalist and author

She says the close grouping of bullets seen on the windscreen of the car is indicative of such weapons.

Weiner says the killing was similar to organised crime hits seen in the Johannesburg area, mostly involving Serbian organised crime as well as other individuals.

It fits the modus operandi completely.

— Mandy Wiener, Journalist and author

MB was quite a colourful individual and often popped up in somewhat nefarious circumstances.

— Mandy Weiner, Journalist and author

Weiner notes when he was a Supersport commentator he was taken off the air.

He was involved in assaulting a businessman at a Parkhurst restaurant. He was very close to Mikey Schultz and the self-confessed Brett Kebble killers. He was regularly seen with them out and about.

— Mandy Wiener, Journalist and author

Shultz told Wiener that he had then distanced himself from Batchelor.

He said 'Batch' had become involved in 'knocking people' - robbing people - and gone rogue.

— Mandy Wiener, Journalist and author

Wiener says he then became close to underworld figure Nafiz Modack.

She says she spoke to Modack on Monday night and he was very outspoken about the killing.

He said whoever was responsible for this will pay because 'Batch was not a man of war, he was a family man.

— Mandy Wiener, Journalist and author

Listen to Mandy Wiener below: