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Joshlin Was Sold for R20,000, Not Abducted, Prosecutors Reveal in Shocking Trial Twist
A chilling narrative is unfolding in the Western Cape High Court as prosecutors allege that six-year-old Joshlin Smith was not abducted, but intentionally sold for R20,000 in a premeditated act involving her mother and two men.
Prosecutor Advocate Zelda Swanepoel told a packed courtroom on Tuesday that Joshlin’s disappearance on 19 February 2024 was the result of a “deliberate act to dispose of the child for financial gain.” According to Swanepoel, the case is no longer about a missing child in tragic circumstances — it’s about an alleged transaction that saw a child handed over like property.
Also Read: Final Push: Defence Wraps Up in Joshlin Smith Disappearance Trial
The State argues that Racquel “Kelly” Smith, Joshlin’s mother, orchestrated the plan along with her boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn. The accusation: they sold Joshlin to a woman believed to be a sangoma.
At the centre of the State’s case is Lourentia “Renz” Lombaard, who has turned State witness under Section 204, giving her immunity in exchange for honest testimony. Lombaard claims Kelly openly admitted to receiving money in exchange for Joshlin. She also testified that on the day of the disappearance, she was instructed to have Joshlin ready by 2pm. A woman dressed in green traditional attire later arrived in a white VW Polo, and Joshlin was allegedly handed over.
This version of events is supported by several other witnesses. Boeta, in a signed police statement, reportedly confirmed the conversation and the presence of both himself and Steffie (Steveno) when the plan was discussed. Prosecutors say this confirms a shared, intentional plan among the three.
Paulina Tosha, another witness, told the court she saw Kelly dragging Joshlin into the house during a heated argument with Boeta the night before the child disappeared. Her account closely mirrors Lombaard’s, further reinforcing the State’s timeline.
On the morning of Joshlin’s disappearance, Lombaard said Kelly left the house earlier than usual and was behaving strangely. This behaviour was also noted by Boeta and a local community member, Carlyn Zeegers, who confirmed the timing and change in routine.
The State’s case is now building toward a powerful conclusion: that Joshlin was knowingly and intentionally handed over — not lost, not abducted, but sold.
Meanwhile, the country watches with anguish as the fate of little Joshlin remains unknown more than a year after her disappearance. Public calls for justice grow louder by the day, with this trial becoming a national symbol of outrage over child abuse and trafficking.
{Source: Cape Town ETC}
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