Update | 9 May 2025:
Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis and their friend Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn are expected to make their next court appearance on Friday, 23 May 2025, before sentencing procedures commence on Tuesday, 27 May, reports Cape {town} Etc.
This was the announcement made when Judge Nathan Erasmus adjourned the matter at the Western Cape High Court this morning.
The court also provisionally confirmed that the matter will resume in Saldanha on 27 May, where evidence will be presented and arguments in mitigation and aggravation will be heard over two days, with sentencing to take place on Thursday, 29 May.
The court heard that Smith, Appollis and van Rhyn have been ordered to be detained in custody until 23 May for the purposes of consultation with the defence council and compilation of final reports by social workers.
According to Erasmus, the court may facilitate consultations for reparation purposes, and the Department of Correctional Services requires a 48-hour requisition for the accused to be brought to court or for consultations, either in court or at the correctional facility, as per Ashley Rix’s latest court update.
The trio were found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking six-year-old Joshlin Smith when Erasmus delivered judgement at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville on Friday, 2 May. They were convicted over a year ago.
Picture: Ashley Rix / Facebook
Update | 2 May 2025
Following an almost three-month-long trial, presiding Judge Nathan Erasmus has just ruled that Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis and their friend Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn are guilty of kidnapping and trafficking little Joshlin Smith.
Erasmus delivered the judgment on Friday, 2 May, at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, where the high-profile kidnapping trial was taking place.
The court heard that the three accused will remain in custody ahead of sentencing proceedings, which are set to take place at a later stage.
Updates to follow
Update: 30 April 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
The highly anticipated trial of the three individuals accused in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith is drawing to a close.
Presiding Judge Nathan Erasmus announced that judgment will be delivered on Friday, following the completion of closing arguments. The case has captivated the community of Saldanha Bay, where Joshlin vanished from her Middelpos home on 19 February 2024.
A pivotal moment in the trial was the testimony of Lourentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard, a former suspect turned state witness. Lombaard claimed that Kelly Smith had planned to sell Joshlin to a sangoma for R20,000, a transaction that was allegedly discussed in the presence of Appollis and van Rhyn. However, defence attorney Rinesh Sivnarain challenged Lombaard’s credibility, highlighting her history of methamphetamine use and inconsistencies in her statements.
As the community awaits the final judgment, the case has sparked broader discussions about child protection and the responsibilities of caregivers. The tragic disappearance of Joshlin Smith has left an indelible mark on Saldanha Bay, and the forthcoming verdict is anticipated to bring some measure of closure to a grieving community.
Update: 29 April 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
A chilling picture is emerging in the case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith, as Western Cape prosecutors argue that her disappearance was part of a calculated plan — not a spontaneous act of neglect or abduction, but a sale.
The State alleges that Joshlin was intentionally handed over in exchange for R20 000 and that the transaction was orchestrated by her mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, with the full knowledge of her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, as IOL has reported.
On Tuesday, in front of a packed courtroom at the Western Cape High Court, senior prosecutor Advocate Zelda Swanepoel laid out a detailed argument tying testimony, witness statements and police interviews into what the State describes as ‘a deliberate act to dispose of the child for financial gain.’
At the heart of the case is Lourentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard, who turned State witness under Section 204, meaning she has been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for full disclosure. According to her, Kelly openly admitted she had accepted money from a woman – suspected to be a sangoma – and that Joshlin was to be handed over.
Lombaard’s claim isn’t standing alone. Investigators say Boeta, in a signed police statement, confirmed the conversation and that both he and Steffie were present when it happened. Prosecutors insist this proves a shared plan between the three adults – a transactional agreement, not a moment of confusion or panic.
Another witness, Paulina Tosha, said she witnessed Kelly dragging Joshlin into the house during a heated argument with Boeta on the evening before the child went missing. This account echoed what Lombaard had described in her own statement, strengthening the State’s timeline.
The following day, 19 February – the last time Joshlin was seen – Lombaard said Kelly behaved strangely, leaving the house earlier than normal. This was backed up by both Boeta and community member Carlyn Zeegers, who confirmed the timing. Lombaard also said she was asked to have Joshlin ‘ready’ by 2pm and later witnessed a woman in green traditional attire arriving in a white VW Polo. Joshlin was allegedly handed over to her.
Boeta confirmed that detail in a later police statement.
As public outrage continues to simmer over the case, many are calling for justice for Joshlin – who remains missing for just over a year.
Update: 22 April 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
The courtroom in Saldanha is once again the centre of a gripping mystery as the trial concerning the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith enters a fresh phase, with chilling confessions and disturbing allegations continuing to stir the public’s demand for justice.
After weeks of testimony and intense cross-examinations, the Western Cape High Court has moved beyond the trial-within-a-trial, where two of the accused – Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn – alleged they were subjected to torture by police officers in an attempt to extract confessions. Both men maintained their innocence and insisted that their admissions were made under duress, but their credibility quickly crumbled under scrutiny.
The court heard that during questioning, Appollis and van Rhyn’s accounts unraveled with inconsistencies. Judge Nathan Erasmus, presiding over the matter, found their statements to be admissible, dismissing claims of coercion. Their videotaped confessions have now officially been submitted as evidence in the primary case, bringing new weight to the prosecution’s argument.
Meanwhile, the third accused, Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith, distanced herself from the torture allegations. Her legal team did not challenge the voluntariness of her statements, leaving her fate tethered to the revelations still to come in court.
Captain Wesley Lombard, the lead investigator in the case, is expected to deliver critical testimony this week. The community waits with bated breath for what Lombard might reveal – especially regarding the troubling accusation that Joshlin was sold for R20 000. This claim has never been substantiated with evidence of a financial transaction, but it remains one of the most shocking allegations in the trial.
The State has officially confirmed that Phumza Sigaqa will no longer be called to testify, as she has been removed from the witness list, as per Ashley Rix on Facebook.
As the trial resumes this week at the White City Multipurpose Centre, spectators, journalists, and heartbroken family members hope that each new witness and every new piece of evidence will bring them closer to understanding what happened to a little girl who vanished without a trace.
Update: 9 April 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
The ongoing trial of those accused in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith took a dramatic turn this week, as shocking video evidence and allegations of police misconduct were presented in court.
The case, which revolves around the abduction of Joshlin from her Middelpos, Saldanha Bay home on 19 February 2024, has become marred by claims of coerced confessions and police brutality. As the trial progresses, the defence has raised serious concerns about the validity of confessions made by key accused Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, who is facing charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.
Van Rhyn, along with Joshlin’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, and her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, is standing trial. All three have pleaded not guilty. The investigation took a pivotal turn when police arrested the group on 4 March 2024 and brought new charges against them.
During interrogation, Van Rhyn and Appollis allegedly implicated Kelly Smith and a woman named Maka Lima, claiming that Smith asked Appollis to take Joshlin to Lima’s house, a few hundred metres away. The two men later retracted this statement, claiming it was coerced under duress.
The defence team for Van Rhyn presented video footage recorded during his police interrogation on 4 and 5 March, which has since become a focal point of the trial-within-a-trial. In the footage, Van Rhyn appears physically distressed, limping and struggling to sit, which his lawyer, Nobahle Mkabayi, argues is evidence of injuries sustained from alleged police torture. Mkabayi accused the police of depriving her client of food and rest and subjecting him to extreme physical and psychological pressure to extract the confession.
The defence lawyer’s questioning of Captain Philip Seekoei, the officer responsible for recording Van Rhyn’s confession, put the focus squarely on the accused’s physical and mental state. Mkabayi pointed out that Van Rhyn appeared visibly exhausted, yawning and stretching early in the interview. She raised concerns about the officer’s failure to intervene despite signs of distress, such as Van Rhyn’s complaints of hunger and the need for medication. Seekoei admitted that he did not enquire about the accused’s condition but insisted he had believed Van Rhyn had rested earlier in the day.
Judge Nathan Erasmus also questioned the police’s handling of the situation, noting that Van Rhyn had expressed his discomfort and need for food and medication multiple times. Despite these clear signs of distress, the police continued with the interrogation, as News24 has reported. Seekoei defended his actions, suggesting that Van Rhyn’s prior rest earlier in the day justified continuing the confession, a response that raised further doubts in the courtroom.
In addition to claims of physical mistreatment, Van Rhyn’s defence team has accused the police of feeding him a false narrative. They claim Van Rhyn was instructed to repeat a fabricated statement about the involvement of Kelly Smith and the others in Joshlin’s disappearance. Captain Fortuin, who had reportedly led the investigation, denied these allegations, calling them ‘untrue.’
The case has now become a contentious battle over the legitimacy of confessions obtained under such questionable circumstances. As the trial-within-a-trial continues, the court is tasked with determining whether the confessions should be deemed admissible in the full trial. If the defence’s claims of coercion and torture are upheld, it could have serious consequences for the prosecution’s case and the future of the trial.
The outcome of these proceedings could ultimately shape the fate of the accused and the pursuit of justice for Joshlin Smith.
Update: 03 April 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
A court session was momentarily halted on Thursday when Kelly Smith was granted a medical reprieve due to an unexpected health scare.
Judge Nathan Erasmus was informed privately that Smith had fallen ill and, after consultation with her attorney, Rinesh Sivnarain, it was decided she would seek immediate medical care.
‘She will be excused from today’s proceedings,’ the judge confirmed. ‘Arrangements are in place for her medical attention.’
Two officers assisted Smith as she struggled to walk, leaning on their support as she was escorted from the courtroom. Her co-defendants appeared visibly concerned but remained silent as the situation unfolded.
Despite the interruption, the court resumed its proceedings in Smith’s absence.
Update: 02 April 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
The trial for the kidnapping and human trafficking case involving Joshlin Smith is in its fourth week and continues in the Western Cape High Court, currently in session in Saldanha Bay. Captain Wesley Lombard, the Investigating Officer, is testifying for the State.
State witness number 47, Brigadier Leon Hanana, has denied that the accused in the case were assaulted. Hanana supported the testimony previously given by Captain Lombard. During questioning, the State Advocate asked Hanana what actions he would have taken if he had witnessed any assault or torture.
Hanana answered: ‘I am a detective in a specialised environment. We believe in outsmarting a person rather than assaulting a person for anything. That was part of my briefing to my team was that we need to gather evidence and prove our case. The question that you asked me advocate, if something like that happened in front of me, I would immediately take steps.’
Update: 01 April 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
The cross-examination of SAPS officer Captain Wesley Lombard in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping and human trafficking trial resumes on Tuesday at the Western Cape High Court in Saldanha Bay.
The trial within a trial in the Joshlin Smith case took another turn as a high-ranking police officer provided fresh testimony on Tuesday.
Brigadier Leon Hanana, head of the Western Cape’s Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, took the stand, detailing his involvement in the case from the moment Joshlin was reported missing on 19 February 2024. He explained that his office was alerted due to widespread media coverage of the missing child, prompting Police Commissioner General Patekile and the Deputy Commissioner to assign him to the case.
Hanana arrived in Saldanha on 29 February, where he coordinated efforts with Crime Intelligence, Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) personnel, and the local police station commander. His main objective was to locate Joshlin, mobilizing multiple teams to follow leads.
A large-scale search operation was carried out on 4 March, involving SAPS, K9 units, the City of Cape Town, and the South African Navy. During this time, Hanana sought to reinterview the three accused—Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith. While the men were questioned at Seaboard offices, Kelly remained in the reception area. Hanana stated he engaged in small talk with her, but she refused to discuss Joshlin when asked.
The court also heard that investigators pursued an alarming tip from a man named Owen, who alleged a navy soldier, also a sangoma, had once asked him to procure a ‘white child.’ Owen insisted Joshlin could be found at the man’s house near a mortuary. A team was dispatched to investigate, but the search yielded nothing.
Hanana further testified that before questioning began, investigating officer Detective Captain Wesley Lombard informed him that Boeta had arrived with a visible injury. He instructed Lombard to document any injuries before proceeding.
Addressing allegations of police brutality, Hanana stated, ‘I am a detective in a specialised environment, we believe in outsmarting rather than assaulting. If something like that happened in front of me, I would take steps, whether it be disciplinary or criminal, against the member who assaulted.’
While Hanana was not present during the interrogations, Lombard later informed him that both Boeta and van Rhyn had confessed by 4pm. To ensure legal compliance, he emphasised that the J88 form—used by doctors to document injuries—should be completed before and after confessions are taken.
The accused were subsequently separated and detained at different police stations before their first court appearance in Vredenburg. The defence has begun cross-examining Hanana, with further proceedings set to continue on Wednesday.
Update: 28 March 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
The two men accused of kidnapping Joshlin Smith in 2024 are now alleging they were tortured during police questioning.
This startling claim surfaced in the Western Cape High Court on Friday as Captain Wesley Lombard, the investigating officer, faced cross-examination by defence lawyer Fanie Harmse.
Harmse, who represents Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, put forward the defence that his client had been subjected to police brutality. Alongside Appollis in the dock is Steveno van Rhyn and Joshlin’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith. During the trial, both Appollis and Van Rhyn made statements accusing the police of abuse, prompting a trial-within-a-trial to decide whether their police statements should be admitted as evidence.
The allegations came to light when Harmse questioned Lombard about the events surrounding Appollis’s detention. He suggested that Appollis had been suffocated with a black bag and struck multiple times by officers. Lombard, however, denied the accusation, stating that no assaults had occurred while he was present, and no complaints were made about such conduct.
Despite his denial, Lombard admitted noticing that Appollis had a swollen, bruised eye when he arrived at the police station. When questioned by prosecutor Zelda Swanepoel, Lombard explained he had asked Appollis about the injury, to which the accused claimed it was not the result of police action.
Harmse, however, countered, stating that his client had explained the injury occurred at Sea Boarder police station and had been caused by the police. Lombard maintained that Appollis denied being assaulted, adding that any physical interaction between police and suspects should have been reported but no such report had been made.
In a tense exchange, Harmse suggested that Appollis had been threatened with further harm or even death if he spoke out about the treatment. Lombard’s response was clear: ‘I have no knowledge of that.’
As the trial-within-a-trial continues, the fate of the statements remains uncertain, and the courtroom drama intensifies, with the accusations of police misconduct hanging over the case.
Investigating officer Wesley Lombard will continue his cross-examination in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping trial this morning.
Update: 27 March 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
Today marks the 18th day of the trial and more than a year since the disappearance of little Joshlin Smith.
The trial concerning the kidnapping and human trafficking of Joshlin Smith is set to include a trial within a trial at the High Court in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape. This process will examine statements and events that occurred outside the courtroom, separate from the main proceedings.
Judge Nathan Erasmus will determine which evidence is admissible. Lourentia Lombaard has faced six days of cross-examination, during which she has been questioned about discrepancies and contradictions in her statements to the police and her testimony in court.
The state’s latest witness, Captain Wesley Lombard, the lead investigator in the case, expressed shock at Kelly Smith’s behaviour during the ongoing search for Joshlin last year.
Captain Wesley Lombard questioned the fact that Kelly didn’t act like a mother that had just lost a child: ‘How can a mother forget about a child in a few days? How can a mother speak like that? I further mentioned to her, My lord, you say you are heartbroken about your child, but you show no emotion. I mentioned to her that “there are lot of parents out there who are struggling to carry on with their lives because their children are still gone, but here, you are Kelly and in less than a week you must forget about your child”‘.
- Court will resume at 12pm.
- The court was interrupted when Kelly Smith reported feeling unwell. She signaled to her lawyer, Rinesh Sivnarain, that she was about to vomit.
Update: 26 March 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today.
Key state witness Lourentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard’s cross-examination resumes this morning.
On Tuesday, 25 March, Lombaard was questioned on her relationship with Joshlin’s mother. She disclosed that before Joshlin’s disappearance, there had been strain between them due to suspicions from Kelly, who believed she was involved in an affair with Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis.
During the proceedings, and at a crucial point, Kelly’s attorney, Rinesh Sivnarain, questioned Lombaard about a statement she had allegedly given to Captain Cilliers at the Saldanha Bay police station after her arrest in March 2024. Lombaard suddenly reported feeling lightheaded, resulting in an early court adjournment.
This was the second time Lombaard seemed to avoid answering the very same question.
Update: 25 March 2025 – Live coverage of Joshlin Smith court case today – proceedings start at 9am.
Key state witness Lourentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard’s cross-examination resumes this morning.
- Frustration builds as Lourentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard struggles to grasp any of the questions being asked.
- The interpreter appears to be slowing down proceedings. The inaccuracy and inconsistency in his translations seem to be confusing the witness – He could also be heard saying – ‘Im not happy to be here’ while his mic was still on during the break.
- Lourentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard caught lying during cross-examination in her initial statement to police.
Update: 24 March – Midday report on Joshlin Smith’s trial:
The cross-examination of key state witness Lourentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard continued this morning, and her testimony continued to reveal notable inconsistencies.
She is uncertain of the time frame of her relationship with Steveno and testified that she had known him for only 8-9 months when her child was one year old, but the judge had to correct her, pointing out discrepancies in her account.
Throughout the proceedings, Lombaard’s behaviour has drawn doubt that she is telling the truth — she appears evasive and has failed to maintain a firm and consistent account. There are strong indications that she may still be protecting Ayanda, seemingly relying on the defence’s lack of urgency rather than offering a transparent and credible testimony
The trial concerning Joshlin Smith’s kidnapping is now in its third and final week at the Western Cape High Court, currently in session in Saldanha Bay, on 24 March.
Since the proceedings began earlier this month, the court has heard disturbing testimonies from multiple witnesses.
Live coverage of today’s court proceedings.
As the final week unfolds, the defence is set to continue its cross-examination of key state witness Lourentia Lombaard, who was initially arrested alongside Joshlin’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, Kelly’s boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis and Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn.
All four individuals are facing charges related to kidnapping and human trafficking after Joshlin disappeared on 19 February 2024, while under the care of Appollis.
Testimonies during the trial have suggested that Kelly allegedly intended to sell her child for R20,000. Last week, several witnesses, including Lombaard, took the stand to provide further details on the case.
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Picture: Ashley Rix
