When pressed for comment, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie explained that divulging operational details in the Joshlin Smith case could potentially jeopardise the ongoing investigation.
This comes amid claims that another two people – who supposedly bought Joshlin Smith – were taken in for questioning on Wednesday. The Western Cape police, however, are remaining tight-lipped on the matter.
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A source told IOL on Thursday that the two people were close to Joshlin’s mother, Raquel ‘Kelly’ Chantel Smith, who has since been arrested and charged with human trafficking and kidnapping alongside Jacquen Appolis and Stevano van Rhyn.
Charges were withdrawn against Phumza Sigaqa due to a lack of evidence against her during the four accused’s appearance in court on Wednesday, and the case was pushed back to 13 May.
Claims of the two people being taken in for questioning arose just hours after the accused’s court appearance, when social media users and so-called TikTok influencers posted the allegations, reported News24.
The posts alleged that the two, who police had earlier this week taken in, had information about Joshlin and had supposedly bought her for R20 000 for muti.
According to the publication, Western Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile denied knowledge of this and would only confirm that Joshlin had still not been found and investigations are ongoing.
Commenting on the matter, Pojie said: ‘Be advised that it is normal practice that during such intricate investigations, people of interest will be taken in for questioning or will be interviewed with the aim to solve such a case.
‘As such, in the interest of solving this case and finding Joshlin, we cannot disclose operational details and give a blow-to-blow account as the investigation into finding Joshlin Smith unfolds as this can potentially jeopardise ongoing investigations.’
Pojie neither confirmed nor denied whether the two people, the names of whom are known by News24, were taken in but said ‘We shall communicate with you should more people be charged to appear in a court of law’.
Patekile also warned social media users and political parties that interfering with the investigation would result in them facing the full might of the law.
Joshlin Smith disappeared just under a month ago outside her Middelpos informal settlement home in Saldanha Bay. Despite extensive daily searches, there remains no sign of the six-year-old.
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Picture: Andre Truter / Facebook