Rob Evans Remains Behind Bars After Second Bail Appeal Rejected

A High-Profile Case That Shocked Gqeberha

The Gqeberha High Court has denied businessman Rob Evans’ second attempt to secure bail, extending his six-month stay behind bars. Evans, the owner of Algoa Plastics, stands accused of murdering his girlfriend, 36-year-old Vanessa van Rensburg, in what prosecutors have described as a “brutal and violent attack” at his Oyster Bay holiday home over Easter weekend.

Van Rensburg, a mother of two, was found on April 20, 2025, with 23 visible injuries. Her death sent shockwaves through the Eastern Cape community, sparking public outrage and renewed calls for justice in cases of gender-based violence.

The Legal Battle

Evans was arrested on May 9, 2025, at his business premises in Newton Park, Gqeberha, following weeks of investigation. His first bail bid was denied in July by Humansdorp Regional Court Magistrate Deidre Dickson, who ruled that Evans failed to show any “exceptional circumstances” justifying his release.

His legal team, led by attorneys Paul Roelofse and Danie Gouws, returned to court arguing that the original judgment was flawed and that Evans should not have been charged under Schedule 6 a classification reserved for premeditated murder cases that makes bail significantly harder to obtain.

However, Judge Nyameko Gqamana of the Gqeberha High Court dismissed the appeal, affirming the lower court’s decision. In his ruling, the judge said Evans had “failed to discharge the onus” of proving that his release would be in the interests of justice.

What Happens Next

With bail once again denied, Evans will remain in custody pending further court proceedings. The state is expected to proceed with a full trial in 2026, where more details about the fatal night in April will likely emerge.

For now, the community of Gqeberha and the family of Vanessa van Rensburg continue to wait for justice in a case that has gripped the province and underscored South Africa’s ongoing battle against gender-based violence.

{Source:IOL}

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