Joshlin Smith has been missing for more than a year.
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The Western Cape High Court has heard harrowing evidence of how missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith was sold for her green eyes and skin.
Former co-accused, turned State witness Laurentia Lombaard was testifying about the hours leading up to and around Joshlin's disappearance on February 19, 2024.
Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith are on trial in Saldanha and face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking. The trio have pleaded not guilty.
Lombaard said she saw Kelly the Friday following Joshlin’s disappearance. She told Lombaard not to call her name too loudly as she knew people were looking for her.
“I went out and went towards her (Kelly). It was Kelly, Boeta, a lady and man, on their way to Kelly’s home. As Kelly entered the home, she asked me to come inside. I asked what she was looking for, she was looking for her son’s school clothes, bank card and ID,” Lombaard said.
She further testified that Kelly never mentioned Joshlin, she only mentioned her two other children and the documentation she needed to collect.
Last week the court heard Joshlin was sold to a sangoma for R20 000.
Lombaard was due to receive R1 000, Van Rhyn R1 200, and the balance was to be shared amongst herself and Appollis.
When asked about the payment, Kelly allegedly told Lombaard: “Renz, I know what I did to Joshlin. There was someone that paid me to keep quiet”.
Lombaard said she asked who was paying her to keep quiet, but Kelly never mentioned the name.
“She said the person who was looking for Joshlin was looking for her because they wanted her [Joshlin’s] eyes and skin,” Lombaard said.
She further asked Kelly about the R1 000 payment she was to receive but never received it.
Lombaard said that when she gave a statement to the police, she only told them about the Monday when Joshlin disappeared.
She claims she did not tell them everything as she was scared at the time.
While she does admit to withholding the truth from police, Lombaard is adamant she is telling the court everything and “not withholding anything”.
Weekend Argus