Four people were arrested in connection with Joshlin Smith’s disappearance, including her mother, Kelly Smith, and Jacquen Appollis, who appeared in Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Steveno van Rhyn and Phumza Sigaqa, an alleged sangoma, joined them in the dock.
The four are facing charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. They have been officially charged, and all four applied for legal aid.
The case has been rescheduled for Wednesday to hear bail information.
Yesterday, police confirmed that the four suspects arrested in connection with the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith would appear in the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Also read: Father of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith seeks custody
Brigadier Novela Potelwa, Western Cape police spokesperson, stated that the Western Cape provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, and the Western Cape MEC for police oversight and community safety, Reagen Allen, would be in attendance.
On Wednesday morning, police confirmed that four suspects had been detained for questioning.
The suspects, two men and two women, are aged 26 to 34.
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Residents in the area continued to search for Joshlin on Wednesday, despite the arrests. They searched from the early morning until late in the afternoon, determined to find the little girl.
The case has been turned over to the Western Cape detective division for investigation amid widespread local and international interest.
Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, told police that when she returned home from a day out, she looked for the child but could not find her.
She later contacted her boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis, who was supposed to look after Joshlin, but he was unable to provide an explanation for her location.
Joshlin was last seen in a light blue T-shirt and denim shorts. She also has a birthmark on her left arm.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the Joshlin is asked to contact the investigation officer, Sergeant Millstine of Vredenburg FCS, at 079 879 8588 or Crime Stop at 086 001 0111.
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Also read:
Four people taken in for questioning as search for Joshlin continues
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