Mark Batchelor Bafana Bafana

Photo: Yusuf Abramjee / Twitter

Breaking: Ex Bafana Bafana player Marc Batchelor shot dead in Gauteng

A shocking scene has played out in Olivedale, Gauteng this evening. Ex Bafana Bafana midfielder Mark Batchelor has been killed in an apparent hit.

Mark Batchelor Bafana Bafana

Photo: Yusuf Abramjee / Twitter

Some utterly tragic news is reaching us on Monday night: It’s been reported that a former Bafana Bafana star Marc Batchelor has been mercilessly gunned down while driving to Olivedale, with some sources claiming it was a suspected hit.

Bafana Bafana player shot dead – latest news:

The SA Police Service (SAPS) did not name the victim until a few hours after the incident. As of 21:15 on Monday, police officers were still investigating the crime scene and trying to determine how this cold-blooded killing played out.

Yusuf Abramjee is an anti-crime advocate in South Africa. He uploaded a couple of pictures of the incident to his Twitter account, after sharing the news with his 232 000 followers. He has suggested that the scene of the crime reads like an execution, but officials are yet to declare this the official version of events.

The harrowing incident is understood to have taken place just after 18:00. It’s been reported that the driver was travelling with his gardener before two men on motorcycles pulled up next to the vehicle. Several gunshots were fired through the driver’s side window, killing the former athlete on the spot.

Who is Marc Batchelor?

We were initially told that the player was active during the 1990s and had spent some time playing in Europe. SAPS were officially waiting until they’d conducted their preliminary crime scene investigation before going public with the player’s identity. They were eventually confident enough to confirm that the man behind the wheel was Marc Batchelor.

Batchelor earned himself a fearsome reputation, on an off the pitch. The tough-tackling midfielder had seen his fair share of brawls in his private life, but the former PSG and Besiktas man was a true warrior on the pitch

No suspects have yet been apprehended by the police.