Rob Evans, a successful Gqeberha businessman, former rugby player, property investor and father, was aware from the outset that he was a suspect in the investigation into the murder of his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg.
After giving a statement to the police, his body was photographed for possible injuries, and a DNA buccal sample was taken.
However, he was still blindsided by his arrest.
Dressed in the same blue check shirt he was wearing when he was taken into custody on Friday morning, as well as takkies without laces, he appeared expressionless as he took to the dock of the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The courtroom gallery was filled with members of the media, though neither the family of the accused nor that of the deceased were present.
In the public gallery, however, was a man who introduced himself as an old friend, saying that he and Evans used to play rugby together.
He only wanted to be identified as Marius.
“From what I can remember, Rob was very calm and a good guy,” Marius said.
“He was never angry or aggressive, so when I heard the news I had to come and look for myself.”
While the defence was ready to proceed with one of two applications — either for bail or against a postponement — the state ensured Evans would spend at least a further four days in custody when the charge against him was amended to premeditated murder, which is a Schedule 6 offence.
A Schedule 6 offence is considered one of the most serious crimes, and bail is often denied unless the accused can prove exceptional circumstances.
Murder is a Schedule 6 offence when it is planned or premeditated.
The key difference for bail applications lies in the burden of proof.
For Schedule 5 offences, which Evans initially faced, the onus is on the accused to prove they should be granted bail, while for Schedule 6 offences, the accused must demonstrate “exceptional circumstances” to justify their release.
Asked by the magistrate if he understood that he was being charged with murder, Evans responded: “I believe so.”
Defence attorney Paul Roelofse said Evans, 58, would plead not guilty.
The father of three and former rugby player is accused of beating and strangling 36-year-old Van Rensburg, a Bay mother of two young children, aged four and eight, at his Oyster Bay home over the Easter weekend.
Her bruised body was discovered on the living room floor by security personnel during the early hours of Sunday April 20.
She had seemingly been beaten and strangled.
According to the provisional charge sheet, “upon or about April 20 2025, and at or near 31 Kabeljou Street, Oyster Bay, the accused did unlawfully and intentionally kill Vanessa van Rensburg.
“A lifelong sentence can be imposed ... upon conviction.”
It is believed more charges could be added at a later stage.
After Van Rensburg’s death, Evans’ attorneys, Roelofse and Danie Gouws, travelled to St Francis Bay to meet the investigating officer, extend their co-operation, and offered to hand him over for arrest should the time come.
But in a dramatic twist, detectives stormed into Algoa Plastics in Newton Park and caught him completely off guard.
Evans is a 60% shareholder of Algoa Plastics, a business he established 30 years ago.
Van Rensburg was one of 54 employees at the company and was Evans’ personal assistant.
The entity owns four properties in Newton Park, as well as the house in Oyster Bay.
Evans has, meanwhile, been living in Church Road, Walmer, for the past year and a half following his separation from his wife and mother of his three daughters.
He is also the treasurer of the Crusaders Rugby Club.
After spending the weekend in the Humansdorp police station holding cells, he was transferred to St Albans Prison after his court appearance on Monday.
His case was postponed to May 16 for a formal bail application.
It is understood the defence will argue that for three weeks, Evans was aware of the investigation and never showed any signs of attempting to flee.
He also travelled back to the seaside town to meet the police and to give them access to his double-storey Oyster Bay home for a forensic inspection.
The defence may also rely on Evans’ medical condition of severe obstructive sleep apnea as one of the reasons he needs to be released on bail.
Evans previously told The Herald that he and Van Rensburg had been in a relationship for about two years.
Van Rensburg and Evans had arrived in Oyster Bay the 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’ house.
Though they were not present at court, Van Rensburg’s family said they were devastated by the heartbreaking possibility that Van Rensburg lost her life at the hands of someone she trusted.
“On Sunday, her two beautiful young children had to face their first Mother’s Day without her; a difficult reminder to us all that she was taken from us, her family, far too soon,” her brother, Johan, said via family spokesperson Dorette de Swardt.
“This is an immensely painful time, yet we hold on to hope that justice will be served in her name.
“We are deeply grateful to the SA Police Service for their overwhelming commitment to this investigation.
“We also extend our heartfelt thanks to every individual, nonprofit, community forum, and the broader Gqeberha community for their overwhelming support and compassion.”
Evans will return to court on Friday.
The Herald
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