Police have once again urged the public to avoid spreading false information on social media as the search for Joshlin Smith enters its third week.
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The search for the missing six-year-old is intensifying in Saldanha, with an area in Diazville identified and zoned as part of the search coordination.
The search party has also been bolstered by a contingent from the local South African Navy as well as a large group from the City of Cape Town, which arrived today.
The Saldanha Bay municipality’s firefighters are also playing an important role in the search by utilising their expertise.
The South African Police Service has also enlisted the assistance of a mounted unit, and more specialised dogs from the K-9 unit are expected to scour the identified area. Detectives from the SAPS provincial office in Cape Town have since descended on the West Coast town to assist local investigators.
SAPS and City of Cape Town drones support all stakeholders’ efforts.
Meanwhile, scores of neighbourhood watch members, community-based organisations, and local residents have worked tirelessly to locate Joshlin.
Items discovered during the weekend’s search were sent to the Plattekloof forensic laboratory for analysis.
‘A humble plea is hereby made by the South African Police Service investigators to members of the public to refrain from spreading false information on social media and desist from recording the searches as this may adversely impact the investigation,’ said SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa. ‘The primary focus of the coordinated efforts should be to find Joshlin or what happened to her.’
Joshlin has been missing since February 19. The Diazville Primary School Grade 1 student was last seen wearing a light blue T-shirt and light blue denim shorts that day. She has a birthmark on her right arm.
Malcolm Pojie, SAPS communication officer, stated that various people had been interviewed in an attempt to locate the child but had been unsuccessful so far.
They included Jacquin Appollis, Joshlin’s mother’s boyfriend, who was brought in for questioning after Kelly claimed she last saw her daughter when she left for work and left the child in his care.
However, Appollis claimed that he last saw Joshlin in the afternoon while she was playing with friends outside.
The local municipality, the PA and some organisations have offered rewards for information that could lead to Joshlin’s discovery.
Anyone with information on Joshlin’s whereabouts should contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Millstine of Vredenburg FCS, at 079 879 8588, Crime Stop at 08600 10111, or Missing Children SA at 072 647 7464.
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Blood-stained clothing discovered as search for Joshlin continues
Picture: Supplied