GQEBERHA – A witness in the murder trial of Gqeberha businessman Robert “Rob” Evans has questioned his account of how he discovered his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg, unresponsive at his Oyster Bay holiday home, testifying that there were no signs of an active braai or that one had taken place.

Evans (58) is standing trial in the Gqeberha High Court for the alleged murder of van Rensburg (36), whose body was discovered at the holiday property during the Easter weekend in April 2025. He faces charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and defeating or obstructing the ends of justice. Van Rensburg was a mother of two and an employee at Algoa Plastics, the company co-owned by Evans.

An evening gathering

Keith Belling, the fourth State witness, testified that he had known Evans for about six years through business. He said Evans and van Rensburg attended a gathering at his home as guests of their mutual friend, Michael McAfee, with about nine people present. Belling said van Rensburg did not appear intoxicated and he noticed no animosity between the couple.

Van Rensburg left at about 19:30, while Evans stayed for another drink. Belling said they had planned to have their own braai. Van Rensburg walked home, which he said was not unusual in Oyster Bay. Under cross-examination by defence counsel Paul Roelofse, Belling clarified that the couple had arrived together but left separately. He was unsure how they got home. McAfee was the last to leave, and Belling later drove him to Evans’s property because his vehicle was parked there.

Accounts heard on the way

Kirsty Reilly, the fifth State witness, said she was sober and spoke to Van Rensburg during the gathering. She said van Rensburg had been drinking gin. Reilly left at about 20:00, after the Formula One race, while Evans stayed for another drink. A photograph she took at 19:38 was admitted as an exhibit.

Reilly testified that at about 02:00 on 20 April, she woke after hearing someone shout: “Help, help, Vanessa is dead.” She saw Evans in the passage before the group made their way to his property. Reilly said she overheard Evans speaking to Carl Roloff on the way and heard different explanations about what had happened: that van Rensburg had fallen down the stairs, had gone missing, and that Evans had been making a braai before returning to find her on the floor. She clarified that Evans had not personally given her an explanation.

At the property, she saw paramedics performing CPR on van Rensburg near the sliding door. She described her as pale, with blood on her top. Reilly recalled seeing redness on the side of van Rensburg’s neck but could not say whether it was bruising. She also disputed a reference in her statement to Van Rensburg drinking whisky. “Whiskey was incorrect,” she told the court, saying Van Rensburg had been drinking gin and water. She said she had seen her drink only one glass.

Security officer testifies about Evans’ conduct

Bulela Xhongo, the sixth State witness, is a Calibre Security response officer in Oyster Bay. He testified that he was dispatched to Evans’s property after an alarm activation, where he found Evans sitting on a windowsill with a glass in his hand. Xhongo said Evans appeared drunk and struggled to stand, spilling his drink.

While Xhongo was there, the alarm sounded again and a woman wearing blue jeans and a green top came out of the garage. Evans allegedly swore at her about the whereabouts of the keys. Xhongo later identified the woman as van Rensburg, who did not respond. “I don’t feel good seeing that,” Xhongo testified, explaining why he left.

The court heard that a request for assistance at the property was sent to Calibre Security at 01:32 on 20 April. Xhongo responded at 01:34 that he would attend again. On his later attendance, he saw Van Rensburg lying on the floor and Evans sitting on a couch nearby.

Xhongo testified that Evans told him he had been in the braai room and, when he returned, found Van Rensburg lying on the floor. Asked by State prosecutor Marius Stander whether he had seen a braai or any remnants indicating one had taken place, Xhongo said he had not. He added that Evans appeared more sober during the later attendance.

State’s allegations

In its summary of substantial facts, the State alleges that Evans and van Rensburg had been in a relationship since May 2024 and that it was abusive from the outset. It alleges that Evans locked Van Rensburg inside his vehicle in May 2024 and assaulted her in February 2025, leaving her with a head wound, blood on her face and bruising around her neck. These allegations have not yet been dealt with in the evidence heard during the trial.

The State further alleges that van Rensburg was killed by being struck with a bottle or another blunt object and/or strangled. It also alleges that Evans disturbed the scene, delayed seeking medical assistance and provided false information about her death.

The matter was postponed until Thursday, 5 November for the continuation of the trial. Evans will remain in custody.

ALSO READ: Gqeberha businessman Rob Evans trial date set for November