Investigating officer Xolile Kato testified in the Humansdorp Regional Court today, May 30, regarding the murder case of Vanessa Van Rensburg (36).
Kato stated that Rob Evans (58), Algoa Plastics boss, had the capability to commit the assault that led to the death of the mother of two during Easter weekend.
“All evidence leads to Evans being the murderer as they were the only two people in the house when Vanessa died,” Kato told the court.
As previously reported by the Express, Evans faces charges of premeditated murder, kidnapping, attempted murder, and defeating the ends of justice.
Evans’ two older daughters were present at today’s court proceedings for the first time.
First Encounter at the Crime Scene
In today’s proceedings, Kato described receiving a call at 02:00 on April 20, regarding a death and drove to Evans’ house in Oyster Bay. Upon arrival, he found police members already at the scene and Evans with one police member. According to Kato, as he approached the house, he saw a female person lying on the floor, later confirmed to be Vanessa Van Rensburg.
Calibre Security Officer’s Statement
According to Kato, a Calibre security officer said the alarm at Evans’ house was triggered around 20:08 on April 19. Kato said when the officer arrived at approximately 21:00, he observed Evans standing in front of the house.
“The security officer found Evans sitting on the windowsill by the sliding door. Evans was clearly under the influence of alcohol—‘very drunk’—and even knocked over his glass when trying to stand up,” Kato testified.
Additionally, the private security officer witnessed Vanessa alive when the garage door opened and she stepped out. Evans was heard shouting, “Where are the fucking keys?” and continued swearing at Vanessa when the officer left.
Sequence of Events
Kato confirmed that Vanessa, Evans and Michael McCaffee had visited Keith Belling’s house earlier that evening, arriving around 19:00. According to witness statements, Vanessa left the gathering at approximately 20:30 and “was not drunk, she was fine.” Evans left about 20 minutes later.
Kato said McCaffee, who had also been at the braai, was given a ride to Evans’ house by Keith around 20:20, after being left by Evans at the braai.
Upon arrival, McCaffee found Evans sitting on the stoep because he was locked out. McCaffee did not see Vanessa’s body before leaving at 20:55, which was confirmed by CCTV footage.
Vanessa’s Description and Injuries
When examining Vanessa’s body at the crime scene, Kato noted her face was directed toward the door, positioned so close to the sliding door that “one had to be careful not to bump her head.”
“Vanessa was fully dressed in a turquoise top and jeans, with a scarf around her neck. She was still wearing her jewelry,” Kato stated.
He observed “a scar on the left side of her chin, a visible bruise on her lower neck, a scar on her right palm, red marks on her chest, and three or four bite mark-looking wounds on her right shoulder.”
The postmortem revealed hemorrhage in the neck and brain, which according to the state doctor, could be the result of strangulation.
A paramedic declared Vanessa dead at 02:59, noting, “The body was cold but not stiffened yet, lips were blue, pupils dilated.”
Crime scene evidence
Examining the crime scene, Kato found green broken bottles scattered across the floor, forming a trail leading to the kitchen. Near the dustbin, he noticed larger glass fragments.
“I discovered a broken J&B whiskey bottle in the dustbin with its label still intact,” Kato testified. “A black plastic bag had been placed in the bin to conceal the bottle. Despite being completely shattered, the bottle was still sealed with its cap present, indicating it had never been opened.”
Evans’ Contradictions
When questioned by Kato about the ‘bite marks’ on Vanessa, Evans said: “What bite marks? I don’t know anything about them.” He told Kato that Vanessa had only complained about sore ribs “that the children caused.”
Kato observed that Evans was not completely sober and “drank a lot of water” during questioning.
When Vanessa’s father, Johan, arrived and declined Evans’ handshake, Evans immediately responded, “Oh, so now I’m a suspect?” though no accusation had been made.
History of Violence
Kato testified that a question was whether Evans was capable of such violence. “The only way to determine this is to ask: has he been violent to her before?”
The court heard testimony from a former neighbor at the Walmer cottage who stated Evans had previously locked Vanessa in a car. Another instance was when Clint, the father of Vanessa’s children, reported that Vanessa had returned home bruised and bloody on two occasions without explanation or medical treatment.
No Signs of Break-In
Kato verified there was no forced entry at the residence. “Everything was in order in the rooms,” he stated.
According to neighbor Christo Joubert’s testimony, he heard a heated argument from Evans’ house with “a female and male voice with many swearing words.”
“What is he not telling us?” Kato asked during his testimony. “We confirmed there was an argument. The question is: is he capable of doing that? Based on all evidence, I believe he is capable of causing her death.”
Kato emphasised that Evans and Vanessa were the only people in the house at the time of her death, with all other parties accounted for through interviews.
The bail application will continue on June 3.
