Gqeberha businessman Robert Evans denied bail in girlfriend's premeditated murder case
Prominent businessman Robert Evans (58) has been denied bail two months after his arrest for the alleged premeditated murder of his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg (36).
The bail application took place at the Humansdorp Magistrates' Court.
Van Rensburg, a mother of two minor children and an employee at the business co-owned by Evans, was tragically discovered lifeless at his holiday home in Oyster Bay on Easter Sunday, April 20.
Reports from law enforcement indicate that she had succumbed to multiple injuries.
Prosecutor Bianca Burger was resolute in her opposition to Evans's bail bid, arguing that his financial resources present a substantial flight risk.
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Fresh murder charge for Gqeberha gun dealer as State adds to explosive case
As she prepares for another bail hearing, Karen Webb, the firearms dealer at the centre of a growing arms scandal, now faces a second murder charge — this time linked to the 2024 killing of a man in Gqeberha, allegedly involving a firearm missing from her former premises. Just as it seemed things were looking up for a Gqeberha firearms dealer facing a laundry list of criminal charges, the State brought more cases against her when she returned to the city's magistrates' court on Monday, including another murder charge. As Karen Webb is set to bring a new bail application before the Gqeberha Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, investigating officers came to court on Monday with two new dockets to add to her ever-expanding list of charges. The 41-year-old owner of the now defunct Webb's Arms has been in custody since her arrest over a string of firearms-related charges in February 2024. Among the charges against her are theft, fraud, firearm smuggling, providing firearms to persons not licensed to possess them, and murder. The saga began in 2019, when Webb provided storage for another firearms dealer, Chris Evans, after his business, Aquila Arms, collapsed. Evans' stock was kept on the Webb's Arms premises, but in a separate safe from Webb's stock. In 2023, firearms recovered from crime scenes in Nelson Mandela Bay, the Western Cape and Gauteng were linked to Evans' cache — and, crucially, to weapons stored at Webb's premises. Evans later accused Webb of stealing weapons from his safe and selling them illegally. She was later accused of illegally moving her dealer stock when her business closed, to premises in the Western Cape without notifying the police. A charge of murder was also brought against her after a .38-special Smith & Wesson revolver, alleged to be from Evans' missing stock, was linked to the October 2022 death of Andrew Lamont in Kariega. Webb has been in custody at North End prison since February 2024. Her initial bid for bail was dismissed, but succeeded on appeal in the Makhanda High Court in June. She was granted bail of R10,000. However, she remained behind bars as more charges had been brought against her before the appeal. When she returned to court on Monday, the State brought another murder charge against her. While details of the case were not discussed in open court, it is believed that the charges related to the death of a man in Gqeberha in December 2024. The murder weapon was another of Evans's firearms that went missing from Webb's premises. This charge will be added to Webb's ongoing case and will form part of the pending bail proceedings. Another charge of theft was brought against her by her ex-husband, Arthur Webb, accusing her of selling household goods belonging to him, including furniture, after their divorce several years ago. It is unclear at this stage whether this charge will be added to the other charges before the court. The case has caused alarm across the country. Hundreds of firearms once held in storage at Webb's Arms have reportedly ended up at crime scenes. Police say many of the weapons were used in robberies and gang-related shootings, and 400 firearms are still unaccounted for. DM
The Citizen
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Robert Evans faces charges of premeditated murder, murder, kidnapping, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice. A prominent Gqeberha businessman charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend has been denied bail. Appearing in the Humansdorp Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, the prosecution successfully opposed Robert Evans' bail bid following several proceedings. Evans is also facing charges of murder, kidnapping, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice, following the alleged killing of 36-year-old Vanessa van Rensburg. Van Rensburg's body was discovered in Evans' holiday home in Oyster Bay in the early hours of Easter Sunday on 20 April. According to the South African Police Service (Saps), she had succumbed to multiple injuries. Saps and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – also known as Hawks – arrested the 53-year-old at his business premises in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on 9 May. National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Van Rensburg – a mother of two minor children and an employee at the business co-owned by Evans – had reportedly started dating him in May 2023. ALSO READ: WATCH: Gqeberha duo remain in custody for daylight murder of taxi operator Bail proceedings 'During the bail proceedings in the Humansdorp Magistrate's Court, Prosecutor Bianca Burger argued strongly against Evans's release,' Tyali said. 'She submitted that the accused, due to his financial means, posed a significant flight risk, and pointed to material contradictions and inconsistencies in his version of events,' he added. He said Burger also highlighted attempts by Evans to exaggerate his role in the company's operations and misled the court about the potential collapse of the business should he remain in custody. Case resumes in August 'The court agreed with the prosecution's submissions and found that the accused had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances warranting his release on bail.' The court further acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations in the context of the country's ongoing struggle with gender-based violence. Evans' case has been remanded to 18 August for further investigations. NOW READ: KZN man, girlfriend, and toddler found dead in double-murder suicide case
IOL News
09-07-2025
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Gqeberha businessman Robert Evans denied bail in girlfriend's premeditated murder case
Gqeberha businessman, Robert Evans is charged with the premeditated murder of girlfriend Prominent businessman Robert Evans (58) has been denied bail two months after his arrest for the alleged premeditated murder of his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg (36). The bail application took place at the Humansdorp Magistrates' Court. Van Rensburg, a mother of two minor children and an employee at the business co-owned by Evans, was tragically discovered lifeless at his holiday home in Oyster Bay on Easter Sunday, April 20. Reports from law enforcement indicate that she had succumbed to multiple injuries. Prosecutor Bianca Burger was resolute in her opposition to Evans's bail bid, arguing that his financial resources present a substantial flight risk.
