State witness and former accused Laurentia Lombaard has taken the stand. She was charged with Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, and Steveno 'Steffie' van Rhyn. The charges were withdrawn as she turned State witness.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
The last time former accused Lourentia Lombaard says she saw missing Joshlin Smith was when Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith got into a white VW Polo with her six-year-old daughter on February 19, 2024, around 2pm.
Lombaard testified at the Western Cape High Court on Friday.
She will continue her testimony on Monday, after which the defence will cross-examine her.
Additional witnesses, including one from outside the province, are expected to take the stand.
On the morning of February 19, 2024, Joshlin was in the care of her mother’s boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and the couple’s friend Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn was present.
Lombaard detailed how Smith asked her boyfriend to get Joshlin ready by the time she returned home later that Monday afternoon.
Lombaard told the court that Smith had sold her child to a sangoma.
“After learning that Kelly sold Joshlin for R20 000, I went to Kelly’s home on Monday morning to find out if the plan was working.
“I asked Kelly why the children didn’t go to school; she said ask them and I shouldn’t ask her shit.
“Kelly said to Boeta at 2pm he must get Joshlin ready. She would return home, and the people would come and fetch Joshlin.
“She said she would pack something for Joshlin, before she left she said, she told Boeta not to forget, she would come back for Joshlin.
“Before she left, she had money in her hand, and asked me to go and buy a packet of tik and I refused and then she went in the direction of work.”
Lombaard said hours later, Smith returned from work, but in her shack, there were people and she had to make another plan to get Joshlin out.
“Around 2pm, I saw Kelly coming from work, and later, I saw Joshlin and Kelly walking with a cooler bag with the child’s clothes in Kelly’s hand.
“They climbed in a car and drove away, and that was the last time I saw Joshlin.”
She said Smith was going to give her R1 000 to keep quiet about what she knew, van Rhyn R1 200, and the rest would be shared between herself and Appollis.
"She offered me money to keep quiet because we knew about the plan."
Meanwhile, Joshlin’s paternal grandmother, Louretta Yon, remained hopeful that the girl will be found alive, despite the harrowing court revelations that her mother allegedly trafficked her for R20,000.
Yon said: “I still have hope that Joshlin will be found alive. I will talk about this when the trial is over.”
Cape Times