# A bullet exposes war between SA's biggest biker clubs > A shooting in Pretoria has brought simmering tensions between MAC's and the Crusaders into the open, with social media videos now fuelling accusations of propaganda and violence. - Title: A bullet exposes war between SA's biggest biker clubs - Summary: A shooting in Pretoria has brought simmering tensions between MAC's and the Crusaders into the open, with social media videos now fuelling accusations of… - Keywords: mac's motorcycle club, crusaders motorcycle club, pretoria shooting, baden watson, brian smith, south africa, motorcycle gangs, violence, social media, police investigation, news, politics - Source: Daily Maverick — https://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-16-how-a-bullet-has-exposed-battles-between-two-of-sas-biggest-biker-groups - Author: Caryn Dolley - Published: 2026-10-16T16:37:51+00:00 - Read time: 4 min - Topics: mac's motorcycle club, crusaders motorcycle club, pretoria shooting, baden watson, brian smith, south africa, motorcycle gangs, violence, social media, police investigation, news, politics ## A MAC's member killed in Pretoria MAC's Motorcycle Club member Baden Watson was killed and another wounded in a shooting outside the Little Britain Pub in Pretoria on October twelfth, twenty twenty-six. ## A Crusaders biker arrested A biker affiliated with the Crusaders Motorcycle Club was arrested in connection with the shooting. Police said a single bullet was fired in the incident. ## The suspect appears in court Crusaders biker Brian Smith made his first appearance in Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, October thirteenth. He is expected back on October twentieth when he may apply for bail. ## Murder and attempted murder charges The National Prosecuting Authority in Gauteng said Smith faced murder and attempted murder charges. He allegedly drew a firearm and opened fire after being asked to leave because he belonged to a different biking club. ## The pub's account differs from police The Little Britain Pub posted on Facebook that CCTV footage from three angles showed Smith had waited for Watson and the second biker to come out. There was no prior altercation, the pub said. > There was no prior altercation, fight or argument beforehand. ## Videos flood social media Since the shooting, numerous videos from CCTV and cellphone footage have been posted online.They show individuals wearing MAC's insignia in confrontations with those in Crusaders gear, including at least one showing a man being hit. ## MAC's calls videos propaganda MAC's released a public statement on Friday, October sixteenth, calling the videos defamatory and propaganda. Founding member Mannetjies Geyser said they contained incomplete, false and misleading allegations. > These materials not only contain incomplete, false, misleading and harmful allegations but further relate to ongoing and active investigations by the SAPS. ## MAC's blames Crusaders campaign Geyser referred to a media campaign together with disturbing and abhorrent posts by members of the Crusaders. He said the propaganda was an attempt to manipulate the public and redirect attention from the shooting. > The propaganda being circulated is solely an attempt to manipulate the public, incite public uproar, discriminate against the remaining biking community and clubs, whilst attempting to re-direct the attention away from the incident and inhumanely act by a member of the Crusaders. ## Expelled members join Crusaders Geyser explained that most MAC's members who had been expelled for undesirable acts or violating club rules still had MAC's apparel. Despite biking protocol, several such members were accepted into the Crusaders. ## Crusaders focus on the shooting National Vice-President of the Crusaders, Eddie Jacobsen, replied to Daily Maverick on Thursday. He said the matter was sub judice and they could not comment further while the investigation and legal process were ongoing. > The matter is therefore sub judice, and we are unable to comment further while the investigation and legal process are ongoing. ## Who are MAC's and Crusaders MAC's Motorcycle Club was founded in nineteen eighty with six bikers and is now one of the largest brotherhoods in South Africa. ## Tensions simmering for months In March last year there was reportedly an incident involving members in Pretoria North. In December last year there was an incident at the Jolly Dolphin in the Eastern Cape involving various motorcycle clubs. ## Crusaders apologise for Jolly Dolphin The Crusaders apologised via Facebook for their involvement at the Jolly Dolphin, saying MAC's bikers had targeted a Patriot wanting to show dominance by intimidation and bullying.A confrontation occurred when they were dining with family. > This provoked incident was totally unacceptable and uncalled for, yet, irrespectively, we apologise for our involvement, despite our good intentions to prevent further bullying and disruption by the MAC's. ## MAC's denies provoking violence MAC's president Hendrik Brenkman responded with a Facebook post saying MAC's bikers had not provoked anyone from other clubs. He said targeted assaults on MAC's members were increasing and proving to increase in violence. > From the recent incident at Jolly Dolphin it seems that the targeted assaults on our members are increasing and proving to increase in violence without regard for public safety and that of other parties. ## International outlaw gangs loom Concerns have emerged about the impact an international outlaw motorcycle group could have on the local biking fraternity. There are suspicions that a local Bandidos chapter may be setting up shop in Johannesburg. ## Bandidos' global reach and violence The outlaw motorcycle gang Bandidos has a strong presence in Australia and the United States.In twenty twenty-five, a US Justice Department officer said the Bandidos declare war on rivals and wage that war on streets. > The Bandidos declare war on rivals, and they wage that war on our streets. ## Bandidos membership spans continents An indictment alleged the Bandidos are a self-identified outlaw motorcycle organisation with approximately fifteen hundred to two thousand members in the United States and an additional one thousand to fifteen hundred members internationally, including in… ## Past killing raises alarm Timothy Lotter, a security company boss and head of the South African chapter of the Satudarah motorcycle club, was shot dead on January fifth, twenty twenty, while driving in Cape Town's Goodwood suburb. ## Satudarah banned for crimes The Satudarah Motorcycle Club was banned in twenty eighteen in the Netherlands, where it originated, over crimes including extortion. ## Key takeaway A MAC's biker was killed in a Pretoria shooting on October twelfth, twenty twenty-six, a Crusaders member was arrested, and the incident has exposed deep tensions between South Africa's two largest motorcycle clubs.