Charge against Evans changed to premeditated murder
Still wearing the blue checked shirt he was arrested in at his Newton Park business premises on Friday, the 58-year-old briefly took to the dock of the Humansdorp Magistrate's Court on Monday afternoon.
The case against him was postponed to May 16 for a formal bail application.
It is understood Evans will plead not guilty.
He is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Vanessa van Rensburg, 36, at his Oyster Bay holiday home on or about April 20.
Initially arrested for murder, a Schedule 5 offence, the state amended the charge to include premeditation on Monday.
The key difference for bail applications lies in the burden of proof.
For Schedule 5 offences, the onus is on the accused to prove they should be granted bail, while for Schedule 6 offences, the accused must demonstrate 'exceptional circumstances' to justify their release.
The Herald
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Herald
17 minutes ago
- The Herald
Life sentence for security guard who raped minor at residential complex
A man who raped a child on the first day of work at a residential complex in Florida, Roodepoort, has been handed a life sentence. Mpho Antonio Lebona, 26, was arrested on the day of the rape of the 14-year-old girl in January 2021 because residents in the complex reacted quickly to the victim's report of the attack, said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane. It was Lebona's first day of employment as a security officer at the complex. "He had been tasked with overseeing access to the complex's communal washing area. The victim, who resided at the complex, approached Lebona to unlock the washing area. The victim's parents were at work during the commission of the offence. The accused locked the door behind them and raped the victim, and inflicted a bite wound on her neck." Roodepoort regional court prosecutor Claude Payne presented victim impact statements from the girl and her mother which highlighted the trauma, particularly the loss of the victim's virginity. Citing the nature of the crime against a child, magistrate Thelma Simpson said life imprisonment was the only befitting sentence, reflecting the court's commitment to justice for such heinous acts. TimesLIVE

The Herald
4 hours ago
- The Herald
Ten SAPS, EMPD officers in court for fraud and corruption
Ten South African Police Service and Ekurhuleni metropolitan police officers were arrested while on duty on Monday for their alleged role in corruption and fraud. They are expected to appear in the Germiston magistrate's court on Tuesday. 'It is alleged that on June 4 during a multidisciplinary operation by law enforcement, the accused officers raided a shop in Edenvale where they seized cigarettes and took R35,000 in cash and three packs of headache tablets to the value of about R5,000,' Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Lizzy Suping said. The nine constables and a sergeant arrested the cashier for trading in illicit cigarettes and another employee for violating immigration laws. 'It is also alleged that the accused officers failed to record all the merchandise seized from the shop at the police station. The shop manager disputed the quantity and type of merchandise booked in the occurrence book to the station commander.' TimesLIVE

The Herald
14 hours ago
- The Herald
Murder of Bay taxi boss rocks industry
News Luvuyo Mbaba gunned down at Bluewater Bay fuel station while waiting to pick up wife Premium By Msindisi Fengu - 04 August 2025 A full-scale investigation has been launched into the assassination-style killing of a Bay taxi boss who was shot dead while waiting to pick up his wife at a busy petrol station. Luvuyo Mbaba, 52, was shot in full view of bystanders at an Engen garage in Bluewater Bay on Friday afternoon, shortly after returning from a company meeting...