Lorentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard, one of the four charged in connection with the disappearance of Joshlin Smith, made her second appearance at the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning, 25 March.
Also read: Joshlin Smith update: Fifth suspect confessed, prosecutor tells court
Lombaard was arrested two weeks ago and faces charges of human trafficking and kidnapping alongside Raquel ‘Kelly’ Smith (Joshlin’s mother), Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appolis (Kelly’s boyfriend) and Steveno van Rhyn (the couple’s close friend).
According to News24, when Lombaard was asked by the State to confirm their allegation that she was part of the kidnapping and trafficking of Joshlin, Lombaard responded with a simple ‘yes’ in court this morning.
It was announced at her first court appearance that she had made a confession, but no further detail on what may have been confessed was provided.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said details of Lombaard’s ‘confession’ will only be revealed in court.
Like her three co-accused, the 32-year-old Middlepos resident abandoned her bail application and was remanded in custody.
[WATCH] The fifth suspect to be arrested for the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith has abandoned her bail application. She appeared at the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court today. She will remain behind bars until her next appearance on May 13. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/xxeWXhp4kS
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 25, 2024
The State told the court that there were still a number of outstanding documents pertaining to the investigation, such as cell phone data and witness statements, reported IOL.
It was also confirmed that police were following up on several leads on the whereabouts of the six-year-old girl.
The matter has been postponed to 13 May, when she will join her co-accused in court.
As per The Citizen, senior advocate Aradhana Heeramun, representing the state in court, claims that Smith instructed Appollis and Van Rhyn to sell Joshlin to another person in Middelpos for a sum of R20 000 for ritual purposes. This disturbing revelation came after a 36-hour interrogation at Saldanha Police Station, where the two men confessed.
Joshlin was last seen over a month ago on 19 February.
Also read:
Kelly, mother of missing Joshlin Smith, pregnant in Pollsmoor
Picture: @ddt_golf25 / X