A year after the mysterious disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith in Saldanha Bay, South Africa, her mother, Kelly Smith, is now facing trial alongside two co-accused for allegedly orchestrating her kidnapping.
Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn have all pleaded not guilty to charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. The case has gripped the nation, as Joshlin remains missing despite extensive search efforts and public appeals.
Initially, Smith claimed that her daughter vanished after being left in Appollis’ care. However, prosecutors argue that she knowingly “sold, delivered, or exchanged” the child and misled authorities about her disappearance. The prosecution’s case was strengthened when a former co-accused, Lorentia Lombaard, turned state witness, shedding new light on the alleged events surrounding Joshlin’s disappearance.
Also, read: Controversy Erupts as Nigerian Muslims Arrested for Eating in Public During Ramadan
The case has attracted widespread attention, with even South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, offering a one-million-rand reward for Joshlin’s safe return. Despite these efforts, there has been no breakthrough in finding the child.
To accommodate the high-profile nature of the case, the trial is being held at the Saldanha multi-purpose centre, which has been temporarily converted into a high court to allow public access to the proceedings. A judge overseeing the case emphasized the importance of transparency, ensuring that the local community remains informed throughout the trial, which is scheduled to run from March 3 to March 28.
As the trial unfolds, the nation watches closely, hoping for justice and, above all, answers about what really happened to Joshlin Smith.
