The bail application of Gqeberha businessman Rob Evans (58), accused of murdering his girlfriend Vanessa Van Rensburg (36), took a dramatic turn in the Humansdorp Regional Court today, May 21, as state prosecutor Bianca Burger presented evidence of what she described as a pattern of violence in Evans’ past.
Evans, co-owner and co-founder of Algoa Plastics, faces charges of murder, kidnapping, and obstructing justice following the discovery of Vanessa’s body at his Oyster Bay holiday home during Easter weekend.
“I’m going to prove a pattern,” Burger stated to the court as she presented evidence to counter Evans’ earlier portrayal of Vanessa as a violent woman with a drinking problem.
HISTORY OF ALLEGED VIOLENT INCIDENTS
Burger presented the court with images and videos allegedly documenting Evans’ history of violent behaviour, both toward Vanessa and others.
She mentioned several local restaurants where Evans is reportedly not allowed entry, including The Southender, Calzoni, and Old Grey, claiming they “make trouble.”
Evans denied knowledge of being barred from The Southender and explained that he and Vanessa had mutually decided not to return to Calzoni following a dispute related to a Rugby World Cup competition.
The prosecutor then presented video evidence of an incident on March 28, at Old Grey, showing Evans slapping another patron. Evans claimed he was protecting Vanessa, who had stepped in to defend another woman after the man allegedly behaved inappropriately.
THE 10TH AVENUE INCIDENT
Burger detailed an incident from late last year when Vanessa allegedly jumped out of Evans’ moving vehicle on 10th Avenue in Walmer.
According to information from Clint, the father of Vanessa’s children, Evans dropped Vanessa off with extensive bruising on her face and arms.
Clint stated, she had so many marks immediately that he didn’t want the kids to see her, Burger recounted from Clint’s statement.
Clint reportedly took Vanessa to her sister, Claudette’s house because he couldn’t allow her to be near the children due to her injuries.
When questioned about these injuries, Evans claimed he couldn’t remember or see how bad her marks were “as it was dark.”
ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE
The court was then presented with evidence related to a February 2025 incident, where Evans allegedly dropped off Vanessa with cuts on her head and blood dripping down her face.
Burger provided images showing blood on the side of Vanessa’s face, blue marks around her neck.
KIDNAPPING ALLEGATIONS
The kidnapping charge stems from testimony by a neighbour from the Walmer cottage, who described an incident where Vanessa was allegedly locked in Evans’ silver bakkie for 40 minutes while she hooted continuously.
According to the former neighbour, Vanessa was unable to exit the vehicle as Evans had done “something in the car so it did not open.”
The neighbour reportedly moved residences due to the constant fighting between Evans and Vanessa during the period of May to July 2024.
When questioned about this incident, Evans denied locking Vanessa in the vehicle. Burger accused Evans of lying when he initially claimed there were no issues at their complex beyond “water issues” they experienced because of Vanessa.
CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF VANESSA’S DEATH
In his first account to police, Evans claimed he and Vanessa arrived at Oyster Bay around 16:30, visited neighbours for drinks, and returned to find Vanessa not breathing.
His second version claimed they attended a braai around 18:30, with Vanessa leaving early to return to the house. Evans stated he “was drunk” and “cannot recall what happened to Vanessa.”
Burger systematically dismantled these accounts using witness testimony.
According to Keith, a neighbour and friend, Vanessa was not drunk the night she died. Another witness, Riley, stated Vanessa had only one whiskey and mentioned she wanted to cook cauliflower.
Witnesses reported Vanessa was sober when she left the gathering to return home. Approximately 20 minutes later, Evans also left. Another neighbour, Mike, stated he needed to fetch his bakkie and was offered a ride to Evans’ house.
Upon arrival, Mike saw Evans standing outside with a whiskey in hand, claiming he couldn’t get into the house.
Security personnel responding to an alarm, reported seeing Vanessa walking outside while Evans allegedly swore at her for the “f*ng keys.” Neighbors reported hearing “constant fighting” and “arguing and screaming” that evening.
The timeline presented by the prosecutor suggested Vanessa had been dead for some time before help was called. First responders arriving at 01:52 found Vanessa already deceased, with her body “stiff and cold” with “only her arms warm.”
Adding to the alleged inconsistencies, Evans reportedly called Clint’s mother at 02:35 with yet another version of events, claiming he had tried to resuscitate Vanessa for two hours.
“She died under your watch,” Burger stated firmly to Evans, highlighting that there were no signs of forced entry and nothing was reported stolen.
The bail application has been remanded to Friday, May 23, with Evans remaining in custody.
