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With Joshlin Smith‘s case being transferred to the Western Cape High Court for a pretrial hearing, the State revealed disturbing details surrounding the six-year-old’s disappearance when the four accused appeared at the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning, reports Cape {town} Etc.

The State alleges that Joshlin was ‘sold, delivered or exchanged’ for R20 000 and that Kelly allegedly planned the sale and lied about the little girl’s disappearance.

At the time of reporting the little girl missing, Kelly claimed that she left Joshlin in the care of her boyfriend – and co-accused – Jacquin Appollis at around 8am before heading to work and when she returned at 5pm, Joshlin was missing.

According to the indictment presented in court, Joshlin’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, began planning to sell Joshlin, as well as her 11-year-old son and two-year-old daughter, into human trafficking as early as August 2023.

The plan was for Joshlin to be ‘taken away or sold’ in January or February 2024, alleged the summary of substantial facts.

‘On Sunday, 18 February 2024, [Kelly] and Joshlin walked to a white motor vehicle that was parked nearby. An unknown female person alighted from the vehicle and conversed with Kelly. This woman handed something to [Kelly]. [Kelly] and Joshlin returned home,’ read the summary of facts.

‘Later during this day, [Appollis, Steveno Van Rhyn, Kelly and Lourentia Lombaard] discussed the plan and how the money would be divided.’

Van Rhyn and Lombaard are friends of the couple and regularly visited their home in Diazville.

The following day, before Joshlin vanished, Kelly is said to have informed Joshlin and her brother, Requin, that they would not be going to school that Monday.

According to the court documents, Kelly also allegedly packed Joshlin’s clothes into a bag before leaving the children in the care of Appollis and heading for work.

‘Later during the same day, Lombaard, [Appollis and Van Rhyn] smoked inside the house. Joshlin and Requin were also at the house at that time,’ read the summary.

‘Later during the same day, [Kelly] arrived at the house. [She] took Joshlin and the bag she had packed earlier. They left the house on foot. [The mother] and Joshlin got into a white motor vehicle that drove away. Later the same night, [Kelly] started looking for Joshlin and reported her missing to the police.’

The accused were subsequently arrested and detained on 5 March 2024 and, despite an extensive search that involved the help of Interpol, Joshlin has yet to be found after 245 days.

The State further alleged that at all times and places, the accused persons shared a common goal and worked together to achieve it.

‘All the accused persons (individually) intended the unlawful criminal outcome or foresaw, with reckless disregard, its possible realisation,’ concluded the summary of substantial facts.

During the court proceedings, the State also said that further details would emerge when incriminating evidence against co-accused Appollis and Van Rhyn was added to the indictment.

Lourentia Lombaard, who was informed during court proceedings that all charges against her were being withdrawn, will now be a State witness against the remaining three accused, the summary of facts indicated.

The State has not provided any details on who Kelly and her co-accused might have given Joshlin to.

Kelly, Appollis and Van Rhyn face charges of kidnapping and trafficking in persons for exploitation.

Picture: Theo Jephta / Gallo Images

Eight months after Joshlin Smith went missing from her home in Diazville, Lourentia Lombaard, along with the three other accused, appeared at the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning, reports Cape {town} Etc.

Also read: Psychic claims to ‘contact’ missing Joshlin in new video

In court, Lombaard, who was arrested in March after reportedly confessing to being involved in the six-year-old’s disappearance, was informed that the charges against her were being withdrawn.

She was charged with kidnapping and human trafficking for the purpose of exploitation alongside Joshlin’s mother, Racquel Chantel Smith, Racquel’s boyfriend Jacquin Rowhan Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn.

While no further details were provided regarding why Lombaard’s charges were dropped, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed to EWN that it would release a statement at a later stage.

Her release follows that of Phumza Sigaqa, who was arrested during the investigation but released a week later due to lack of evidence.

Sigaqa, who at the time was accused of being a sangoma, claimed that police tortured her to ‘tell the truth’. She denied being a sangoma and was forced to flee her home out of fear.

The case has now been transferred to the Western Cape High Court in terms of section 75 of the Criminal Procedure Act, where a pretrial hearing will take place on 31 January 2025.

The three accused will remain in custody until then.

Meanwhile, the Diazville community in Saldanha Bay held a prayer service ahead of Joshlin’s birthday on 23 October, reported eNCA. Community members say they remain hopeful and will continue to pray for her safe return.

Since her disappearance on 19 February, the extensive search for the soon-to-be seven-year-old that went international with the involvement of Interpol has yet to yield a trace of the missing child.

Also read:

McKenzie pledges entire parliamentary salary to Joshlin Smith Foundation

Picture: @Boer_Vir_EWIG / X

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