Memorial service planned for slain Nelson Mandela Bay mom

Gqeberha mother of two Vanessa van Rensburg, found murdered in the lounge of her boyfriend’s Oyster Bay holiday home, will be cremated on Wednesday, with a memorial service to be held on the same day.

A memorial service will be held for Vanessa van Rensburg on Wednesday
A memorial service will be held for Vanessa van Rensburg on Wednesday (SUPPLIED)

Gqeberha mother of two Vanessa van Rensburg, found murdered in the lounge of her boyfriend’s Oyster Bay holiday home, will be cremated on Wednesday, with a memorial service to be held on the same day.

Thirty-six-year-old Van Rensburg’s body was discovered during the early hours of Easter Sunday.

She had seemingly been beaten and strangled.

Van Rensburg’s brother, Johan, said the memorial service would take place in Theescombe, and that it was by invitation only.

“Her death is still very hard to believe and we haven’t come to terms with it yet,” he said.

“We are hoping for the wheels of justice to turn quickly and for an arrest to be made.

“We have been keeping to ourselves, busy with the planning of the memorial.

“Family and friends are flying in and coming from all over to attend my darling sister’s memorial.

“She will be cremated on the same day. To be cremated was her wish,” Johan said.

The investigation into Van Rensburg’s murder continues.

Police were called to the house during the early hours of Easter Sunday after her body was discovered by members of a local security company.

Police spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy said St Francis Bay police had opened a murder docket after members responded to a complaint on April 20 at about 1.45am.

“Upon arrival at the scene, members found a 36-year-old female lying on the floor.

“She had bruises on her body and was declared dead on the scene by [emergency personnel].”

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said on Monday that a postmortem had been performed last week and the results formed part of the investigation.

Van Rensburg grew up in Johannesburg before moving to Gqeberha.

She matriculated from DF Malherbe High School.

She leaves behind her two children, aged four and eight.

Van Rensburg and her boyfriend, Gqeberha businessman Rob Evans, arrived in Oyster Bay a day before her body was found.

It has since been established that the couple attended a braai at a friend’s house that evening but that Van Rensburg left the gathering early to head back to Evans’ Kabeljou Street home.

The Herald


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