The mother of missing Joshlin Smith, Raquel “Kelly” Smith, appeared alongside co-accused Lourentia Lombard, Jacquen Appolis and Steveno van Rhyn in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court. File picture: Henk Kruger, Independent Newspapers
THE HUMAN trafficking case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith has been postponed to October 21 after the State indicated that it has new evidence and wants ample time to investigate it.
This development follows the appearance of Joshlin’s mother, Raquel "Kelly" Smith, alongside Jacquen Appolis, Steveno van Rhyn and Lourentia Lombard in the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court on Monday, all in connection with her disappearance.
The group faces charges of kidnapping and trafficking in persons for the purpose of exploitation.
Speaking to the media outside court, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said that between the accused’s last appearance in July and now, they have uncovered new evidence that still needs to be investigated.
“It’s important evidence that is at a very sensitive stage of investigation and hence we asked for a postponement,” he said.
According to information, Smith had left Joshlin in the care of her boyfriend, Appolis, at the time of the child’s disappearance.
The State alleges that Joshlin was sold for R20,000.
There has been no new information on the whereabouts of the green-eyed girl, however, residents of Saldanha Bay remain hopeful that she will be found.
Last month, an American psychic, Kandis Starr, claimed to have made contact with Joshlin.
A video Starr posted featured a playhouse, a teddy bear, a picture of Elmo from Sesame Street and a photoshopped picture of Joshlin. She claims to be channelling the missing girl in the video that is over nine minutes long and posted on TikTok.
Starr told her viewers that the young girl had died.