• Marc Coetzee was one of two men Qinsio Van Damme said goodbye to in the latest episode of The Bachelorette SA.
• During a conversation at the cocktail party, Marc seemed undecided on whether he wanted to be on this journey.
• “I went into the show with an open mind and open heart, with a win-win mindset,” says Marc.

When it comes to the most creative gift presented on The Bachelorette SA red carpet, Marc Coetzee certainly raised eyebrows when he came bearing a bunch of carrots.
In the latest episode, the 41-year-old was one of two men who Qiniso Van Damme said goodbye to.
The business developer was one of the lucky few to be selected to go on a group date with Qiniso, where they had a round of speed dating and an auction to get to know her better.
During the cocktail party, Marc and Qiniso had some one-on-one time which left the bachelorette not sure that Marc was 100 per cent committed to this journey of love. At the rose ceremony, Qiniso told him that she didn’t need 50/50 and sent him home while wishing him well.
In this Q&A, Marc tells us about that conversation with Qiniso, his experience on the show, and weighs in on Qiniso’s dream man.
During your chat with Qinisio, it came across like you had already decided you no longer wanted to be there. Was there a specific point or incident that prompted it?
I had reached a point where I’d understood everyone’s situations and personal compatibilities that would lead to their end game. The short time you get to spend in conversation or interacting with Qiniso doesn’t lend itself to very in-depth, lengthy conversations. You’re also having to deal with the heightened sensationalism of what’s going on around you. So, no specific incident, rather an intuitive truth to both Qiniso and myself.
We have to ask, when Qiniso asked you if you wanted to be there, you didn’t give her a clear answer. Looking back, do you feel that you were unclear, and if so, how could you have expressed your feelings better?
Taking the nature of the surroundings and format, you’d only get to see what needed to be portrayed and captured, to sum up, the story and moment. We had a really great chat together and understood each other very well; I suppose there’s an element of wanting to play a calm situation down and not knowing how to relay certain clear points.
Hypothetically, if you were offered a rose that night, would you have accepted it?
That was most probably the last factor that came into play and swayed the moment. I could’ve sat with Qiniso and said, ‘Yes, I’m all in no matter what’ even though I was undecided, and then at the rose ceremony declined the rose. I wouldn’t have had any integrity, honesty, trust or respect, because it would’ve been a blatant lie. I am pretty clean-cut in terms of right or wrong, people’s feelings and emotions, and my own personal demeanour.
About the age difference between you and Qiniso, do you feel like it played a role in your hesitation about being on the show? As you re-enter the dating pool, do you think age is a factor in forming a meaningful connection?
I didn’t go into the show with any hesitation around my age or the age difference between myself and Qinsio, and I know there’s a lot more to a relationship dynamic than that. The biggest factor around age in the dating pool is people’s external perceptions and social pressures. People tend to look at things from the outside and place a misunderstood version against it without knowing the mutual workings. One of my best previous relationships has been with someone of a substantial age difference.
Going into the show, what were your expectations, and how would you describe the experience on The Bachelorette SA?
I went into the show with an open mind and open heart, with a win-win mindset. My expectations were definitely to put myself out there physically and mentally and see how I could grow as a person and how this would potentially guide me to an inevitable relationship and partner. I really enjoyed the opportunity to be on the show and for the first season. It has stretched my reach in terms of determining what I’m looking for in a partner and relationship and what I’m willing to compromise and reciprocate. I am also grateful for the new friendships that were formed and look forward to catching up with everyone going forward.
Do you think Qiniso’s ‘dream man’ is in the mansion?
I think Qiniso’s ‘dream’ qualities lie within several of the men within the mansion. How she decides to package those into one and compromise where needed is her biggest decision.
Are you still looking for love?
Absolutely!
WATCH A TEASER FOR EPISODE 4 HERE:
The Bachelorette SA airs Thursdays at 19:30 on M-Net (DStv 101) and is also available on DStv Now.