St Francis Chronicle reporter –
Yesterday, 30 May, the Eastern Cape’s Humansdorp Regional Court heard a seasoned investigating SAPS officer describe the chilling murder scene in an Oyster Bay house where the body of Vanessa van Rensburg from Gqeberha/PE was found in the early hours of Easter Sunday this year.
Warrant Officer Xolile Kato, a 20-year SAPS veteran and St Francis Bay detective chief, testified as the lead investigator in the murder case against accused PE businessman Rob Evans, 58, the owner of the Oyster Bay holiday home, and co-owner of Algoa Plastics in Gqeberha. Evans faces charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and obstructing justice.
Yesterday was the sixth day of Evans’ bail hearing. St Francis Chronicle first reported the dreadful news of the death of 38 year-old Vanessa van Rensburg in Oyster Bay, 16 km from St Francis Bay, having heard reports from terrified residents about a murder that has shaken that village and the Eastern Cape.
Kato said he reached the crime scene at Evans’ Oyster Bay holiday home where the police, a security company, NSRI personnel and locals were gathered. As he reached the sliding door he saw Vanessa van Rensburg’s body in the living room, with Evans present and confirming her identity.
Evans told investigators that earlier that evening, Vanessa and an acquaintance, called Michael, drove to a friend’s home in Evans’ car, as Michael was unfamiliar with the location. Michael’s white pickup was left at Evan’s home. During his inspection of the home, Kato found glass fragments, and in an outdoor bin, he found a shattered liquor bottle with a broken base but with the bottle lid still on. In the house, Vanessa’s necklace and phone were still there. This suggested the crime was not robbery motivated.
Kato said he observed marks on Vanessa’s lower neck, which he initially thought were bites. Autopsy findings, however, indicated a blunt object had caused the injuries. Potentially, the bottle’s base had caused the injuries.
Kato said he could see Evans had been drinking, though he did not visibly appear to be drunk.
State prosecutor, Bianca Burger, asked Kato if it was possible that Evans could miss seeing an intruder enter the house. Evans had told the court in a previous appearance he did not see Vanessa’s body.
Kato replied: “It is impossible that Evans could have missed anything happening from the braai area as he has full view of the living room where Van Rensburg’s body was lying. There was a huge scuffle as she received a lot of beatings”.
Evans’ two daughters and two brothers appeared in court yesterday for the first time to observe the proceedings.
The bail hearing at its sixth day yesterday was postponed to 3 June and Evans remains in St Albans Prison.
St Francis Chronicle first reported Vanessa’s death on April 21, 2025, in Oyster Bay, 16 km from St Francis. Evans was arrested earlier this month on 9 May.
Evans faces charges of murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and obstructing justice. On 23 May, prosecutor Bianca Burger presented evidence of 23 wounds on Vanessa on including a broken rib piercing her lung, and signs of strangulation. Evans also had scratches, and the court heard he gave three different accounts of what happened that night.
The 3 June hearing is expected to reveal more evidence.
This is a developing story. Follow @stfranchronicle; https://www.facebook.com/stfranchronicle/
