. Kelly Smith faces charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.
Image: Ayanada Nadame
Silizwe Mbambo, a staff member of the Western Cape Social Development Services, said she discovered a history of drug abuse and concerning behaviour when reviewing the file on missing child Joshlin Smith's family.
Giving testimony on the seventh day of the trial, Mbambo detailed her interactions with Joshlin’s family following the 6-year-old’s disappearance on February 19, 2024, in Saldanha Bay.
Joshlin had not attended school that day and her mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, claimed her uniform was dirty and that she wasn’t feeling well.
Instead, she left Joshlin in the care of her boyfriend, Jacquen "Boeta" Appollis, who later admitted to spending the day smoking tik with his friends, Steveno "Steffie" van Rhyn and Laurentia Lombaard.
All four were arrested, but Lombaard was later released after turning state witness.
Mbambo on Tuesday testified before the court, which is sitting at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay, that she was troubled by the Smith family’s file.
“The file was opened in 2016 after Ms Smith requested social services. Prior to that, her grandmother had also sought assistance, alleging that Ms Smith was using drugs, had abused her son Racquen and had exhibited violent behaviour—swearing at him, attempting to stab him, and even threatening to assault the grandmother. At the time, Ms Smith was pregnant,” Mbambo explained.
The grandmother had wanted a protection order against Smith but later left for the Northern Cape with Racquen. The case was eventually closed.
Smith later reached out to Social Development again in March 2018, admitting to drug use and requesting rehabilitation.
She was admitted to a rehab centre for a month but refused to participate in an anti-relapse programme upon her return.
On the day Joshlin went missing, Mbambo was assigned the family’s case.
She attempted to contact Smith but was unable to reach her for two days.
Eventually, Mbambo found Smith at her employer Kelly Zeegers’s home.
“My assessment was that she was traumatised by her child’s disappearance. During our engagement, she was emotional when discussing Joshlin,” Mbambo testified.
Smith told the social worker that Joshlin had stayed home from school because her uniform was dirty and she did not have soap to wash it.
Despite her drug use, her friends and family, including Zeegers and her aunt, described Smith as a loving mother.
Smith admitted to last using tik on February 19 and confirmed she had previously been to rehab but had relapsed.
When asked about her other children, Mbambo stated that Racquen was living with Smith’s maternal family, while Rachelle was staying with her paternal relatives.
Cape Argus