Saldanha Bay – In a dramatic turn of events in the Western Cape High Court, the trial of Racquel "Kelly" Smith, accused of kidnapping her six-year-old daughter Joshlin Smith, has taken a disturbing turn with a key state witness claiming Smith confessed to selling the child to a sangoma for R20,000.
The testimony came from Lourentia "Renz" Lombaard, a former co-accused who has now turned state witness, providing damning evidence against Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin "Boeta" Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn. Lombaard is testifying under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which grants her indemnity from prosecution in exchange for her testimony, and is currently under witness protection.
Lombaard's testimony, delivered before Judge Nathan Erasmus, painted a grim picture of the events leading up to Joshlin's disappearance in February 2024. According to Lombaard, Smith confided in her a day before Joshlin went missing, revealing her shocking decision to sell her daughter.
Lombard, also known as Renz, was arrested last year with Racquel “Kelly” Smith, Smith's boyfriend Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn. However, she later turned state witness. The remaining three accused pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.
Lombaard said Van Rhyn was outside the shack. She knocked on the door and asked what was happening.
Smith then allegedly told her: “Renz, I caught on k*k. I sold my child to a sangoma.” Lombaard asked why she had done that and the answer was that Smith was struggling financially.
Lombaard told Smith she could have asked for help if she needed money but Smith replied “it is finished” and explained she would give Lombaard R1,000, Van Rhyn R1,200 and the rest would be shared between her and Appollis.
They were instructed not to tell anyone.
Lombaard said Smith offered her R1,000 to keep quiet, an offer she said she accepted but never received the money.
The three accused face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking in the Western Cape High Court, sitting in the Saldanha Bay multi-purpose centre.
Earlier that day, Lombaard said she overheard Smith tell Appollis that someone wanted to buy Joshlin.
The former accused said she saw Smith receive a small parcel from a short woman, who was dressed like a sangoma.
Meanwhile, the lawyer representing Kelly Smith, Rinesh Sivnarain, has accused State witnesses of trying to get into the limelight through their testimony in court.
Sivnarain said both Nico Steven Coetzee and popular TikToker Shakeerah “Shakes Warrior” Ganief both wanted to gain popularity and increase their “likes” on social media.
The state witnesses resumed with their testimonies on Thursday morning in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the White City Multipurpose Centre, Diazville, Saldanha Bay.
She said Kelly showed no signs that her young child was missing.
Sivnarain asked Ganief how many likes she had before Joshlin’s disappearance.
Ganief replied: “I was informed by someone in Saldanha Bay that a child was missing and I would go on TikTok live to bring awareness about the disappearance of Joshlin. It was not for the likes.
“And there were more likes throughout the process, even after Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture] Gayton McKenzie’s Facebook live [with Kelly].”
The lawyer also said Coetzee realised how much Joshlin’s case gained media attention and that he might have been trying to get limelight.
He said: “This matter attracted a lot of media attention, maybe you saw this as an opportunity to get into the limelight.”
The witness denied this.
Two more witnesses, who church leader Coetzee claimed he spoke to about the conversation he had with Kelly about plans to sell her kids, also testified on Thursday.
His employer, Thersia Kruger confirmed that Coetzee told her that Kelly said in January or February that Middelpos would be like a movie scene.
Vredenburg Magistrates Court Control Prosecutor Jacques van Zyl who dealt with the matter a few times, told the court that Coetzee had informed him of Kelly’s plans that she had shared with Coetzee in August 2023.
He added: “It was interesting about the timing that this was told to him.
“It looked like it was planned a long time before. I spoke to the investigating officer. I told them it would be important to speak to Mr. Coetzee.”
The trial continues, with the state expected to call further witnesses to build its case against Smith, Appollis, and Van Rhyn. The disappearance of Joshlin Smith has gripped the nation, and the revelations in court have only intensified the public's demand for answers and justice for the young girl.