Update:
Three of the accused in the Joshlin Smith disappearance case, including her mother and her boyfriend, abandoned their bail applications at the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court.
The charges against Phumza Sigaqa, who is suspected of being a sangoma, were dropped.
The case has been pushed back to May 13th to allow for further investigation and the collection of mobile data.
Court proceedings in the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court were delayed for more than an hour on Wednesday morning due to angry confrontations outside the court.
Four people are accused in Joshlin Smith’s disappearance, and police appeared to struggle to control an angry crowd.
Residents requested access to the court but were denied entry.
Local residents were barred from entering the premises by heavily armed police who used barbed wire.
Locals demanded access, shouting ‘Biza in’ at a queue of police officers.
After rumours surfaced that Joshlin’s disappearance was motivated by multiple factors, supporters of one of the accused, Phumza Sigaqa, chanted ‘Free Phumza’ and carried placards reading ‘Phumza is not sangoma.’
This is a developing story.
Since the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, police and the local mayor have repeatedly urged those searching and social media users not to spread misinformation.
Also read: Over 15 000 petitioners call on court to deny bail in Joshlin Smith case
It has been 23 days since the Grade 1 student from Diazville vanished without a trace on February 19, shortly after 5pm.
As residents and members of communities across Cape Town descended on the small town in search of the girl, social media users were able to follow all of the details as they unfolded, with many going live.
As a result, concern and desperation grew, and as it appeared that the local police had failed to investigate Joshlin’s disappearance, members of the public began conducting their own investigations, holding interviews and asking questions about the case.
However, one individual whose name came up in connection to Joshlin’s disappearance had his life turned upside down.
He was forced to leave his workplace.
The 34-year-old local business owner is now safe.
Reagen Allen, the Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, confirmed that a criminal case was being investigated.
‘I can confirm that a case has been registered in terms of a 34-year-old man who currently lost his entire business. His car wash is no longer in existence. He kick-started that business in 2011,’ Allen said.
‘He was removed from the premises where he worked because false information was spread. The matter is being investigated. We would never want any persons ultimately conduct investigations in that particular way.’
He stated that investigators have video of the incident in their possession.
‘I can confirm he is in a safe location provided jointly by police and the municipality,’ Allen said.
On Thursday, March 7, four people appeared in the Vredenberg Magistrates’ Court: Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, Stevano van Rhyn, and alleged sangoma Phumza Sigaqa.
The quartet is accused of trafficking in persons and kidnapping. They have officially applied for legal assistance.
Smith told police that when she returned home from her day out, she looked for Joshlin but could not find her.
She later contacted her boyfriend, Appollis, who was supposed to look after Joshlin, but he was unable to account 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.
The group is expected to appear in court today.
Also read:
Update: Mother, boyfriend and sangoma charged for Joshlin’s disappearance
Picture: @ActionSocietySA / X
