Joshlin Smith’s mother Racquel Kelly Smith at the Western Cape High Court, sitting in White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay.
Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete
THE COURT on Monday heard that missing child Joshlin Smith’s brother told the police that State witness Lourentia Lombaard only arrived at their home after their mother left for work.
Lombaard had previously told the Western Cape High Court, sitting in White City Multipurpose Centre, Diazville, Saldanha Bay, that she arrived at the shack before Racquel "Kelly" Smith left her home, hours before Joshlin went missing.
Joshlin was in the care of Kelly’s boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis when she went missing on February 19, 2024. She was six years old at the time.
Steveno "Steffie" van Rhyn and Lombaard were arrested along with the couple, who were all charged with kidnapping and human trafficking.
Lombaard turned State witness and detailed how Joshlin’s disappearance was orchestrated, allegedly by Kelly Smith.
She testified that on the morning the girl went missing, she visited Kelly’s home to find out how the plan was working and Kelly was at home and said she would return to fetch Joshlin at around 2pm.
Appollis’s lawyer, advocate Fanie Harmse, during cross-examination of Lombaard on Monday, asked her if she was sure about her evidence of that morning.
The court has asked that Kelly Smith's son not be identified in the proceedings.
“The police took testimony from (Kelly’s son). According to (Kelly’s son), his mother went to work and thereafter, they got up and bathed and washed clothes.
“And then, after my mother went to work, Auntie Renz came by," the lawyer said in a statement he read out.
Lombaard said that was not true.
The court heard that Kelly’s son might be called to testify at a later stage.
Visibly annoyed, Judge Nathan Erasmus told Harmse he didn’t want to be a meme or trend on TikTok.
He said this to the attorney as Harmse cross-examined Lombaard, who has been on the stand for almost two weeks.
Harmse had been asking questions about Appollis walking to a white VW Polo that allegedly drove off with Joshlin. Erasmus said these questions had been answered on Thursday.
“It was finalised that your client was not with Ms Smith when she went to the car. I am not going to allow you to waste time by going back to it.
“I'm not going to be part of another meme and trend on TikTok, but you are welcome to go there.”
The cross-examination continues as Lombaard gives her account of the events on the day Joshlin went missing.
Harmse concluded his cross-examination and Van Rhyn’s attorney, Nobahle Mkabayi, is expected to question the witness.