I have been ‘third hand following’ the tragic murder of Vanessa Janse van Rensburg in her boyfriends Oyster Bay holiday home on the Easter Weekend.
And then I noticed that Vanessa’s boyfriend (and boss) was Rob Evans.
I admit – it took me a while before the penny dropped.
Up until my late father’s death in 1989 we used to see Rob Evans at family gatherings and holiday get togethers. Rob is (was) my cousin on my late father’s side, son of Margaret and Evan.
The previous time we were together outside of family get togethers was when we had gone out on the town in the mid 1980’s and landed up in a bit of testosterone action at The Farmers Home pub. I had taken a bit of a dislike to the conversation at the table to our left who were running down our Fathers who were with us. Luckily my old mate Garth (Wright) stepped in to dissuade myself from more damage to the chattering classes who had dissed my Old Man and were subject to my rage.
But, the pain of the above incident pales into minute insignificance when I consider what pain Rob is gong through right now. At least a suspect has been arrested. (Apparently the suspect is a 58 year-old ex EP Rugby Player).
The passing of my late Father brought family strife right to the surface with the result that the children and cousins became collateral damage and we have not interacted with any cousins on my late Father’s side since last century (37 years and counting).
So – whilst I do not have Rob’s number I still feel that I need to acknowledge this tragic event especially since Rob’s late father – Evan Evans – was the one that piqued my interest in learning how to read text in a mirror. Evan used to work in the printing room at The Herald. Typesetters had to be able to read a mirror image of each page before running the printing press and I was enthralled at his ability to do so. Of course the rhythmic thump thump of the press when it began to run was also so very exciting… That may explain where my love of words came from.
Let us hope that the people involved in this tragedy all find peace, justice and forgiveness.
Update 12 May 2025: It is with very mixed emotions that I received the news that Rob Evans IS the person arrested for the murder of Vanessa van Rensburg after someone ‘ kindly ‘ posted this on Facebook:
Eastern Cape businessman Rob Evans arrested for murdering Vanessa van Rensburg
The 58-year-old Eastern Cape businessman Rob Evans has been arrested after the murder of his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg (36).
This mother of two underage children was found dead in Evans’ holiday home in Oyster Bay on Easter Sunday.
Evans was escorted to the police vehicle before his business in Newton Park, Gqeberha, according to a source that witnessed the businessman being arrested by the Hawks.
The source says Evans was first interviewed by the Hawks in his office. He is believed to have exercised his law and his lawyer, Danie Gouws, had to hurry from Grahamstown before he was officially arrested 90 minutes later.
According to Gouws, his client gave his full cooperation to the police from the beginning of the investigation, until the “unexpected” arrest.
Evans will make his first appearance in the Magistrate Court on Humansdorp tomorrow and Gouws says his instruction is that he intends to deny guilt.
The state has already announced that he will oppose bail and a date will be set for a formal bail application.
Evans is the father of three children and was estranged from his wife. He and Van Rensburg broke away over the Easter weekend to his double-storey holiday home in Oyster Bay, about 110 km from Nelson Mandela Bay.
Van Rensburg’s body was found on Easter Sunday on the living room floor where emergency services declared her dead.
