09/07/2025
Bail denied for Gqeberha businessman accused of girlfriend’s murder
The Humansdorp Magistrates’ Court has denied bail to prominent Gqeberha businessman Robert Evans (58), who stands accused of the premeditated murder of his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg (36).
Evans, arrested on 9 May 2025 by SAPS and the Hawks at his business premises, faces charges of murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice. Van Rensburg’s body was discovered with multiple injuries in Evans’s holiday home in Oyster Bay during the early hours of Easter Sunday, 20 April.
Van Rensburg, a mother of two and employee at Evans’s company, had reportedly been in a relationship with him since May 2023.
During a series of formal bail hearings, Prosecutor Bianca Burger successfully argued that Evans posed a significant flight risk due to his financial resources. The state also highlighted inconsistencies in his account and attempts to mislead the court regarding his role in the business to bolster his bail application.
The court ruled that Evans failed to prove exceptional circumstances justifying his release. The magistrate also emphasized the seriousness of the charges within the broader context of South Africa’s ongoing battle against gender-based violence.
The case has been postponed to 18 August 2025 for further investigation.
