Saldanha Bay – The harrowing trial of Joshlin Smith's mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, has continued to grip South Africa, with explosive testimony revealing the alleged motive behind the six-year-old's disappearance.
Laurentia "Renz" Lombaard, a former accused turned state witness, testified in the Western Cape High Court, held at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha Bay, that Joshlin was wanted for her eyes and skin.
Ms Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Rowhan Apollis, and friend Steveno Dumaizio Duwayne Van Rhyn are charged with contravening the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The disappearance of Joshlin in February 2024 from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, sent shockwaves across South Africa and, despite a highly publicised search for her, she is yet to be found.
Ms Kelly Smith initially said that Joshlin, who has a fair complexion and blue-green eyes, had gone missing after she had left her in Mr Appollis's care. Prosecutors later accused her of having "sold, delivered or exchanged" the six-year-old and lied about her disappearance.
Lombaard's testimony has been central to the prosecution's case, painting a disturbing picture of desperation and alleged exploitation.
While on the witness stand, Lombaard said she asked Kelly why people wanted her child. "She said the person searching for Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin," said Lombaard.
Lombaard also claimed that Kelly received R20,000 for Joshlin and promised Lombaard R1,000 to keep quiet. One thousand two hundred was allegedly supposed to be given to Van Rhyn, who was aware of the child’s sale.
Lombaard claimed she never followed up on the money, and Kelly never gave it to her. In her presence, Kelly showed Apollis some money and said: "Here is the money the sangoma gave me."
Lombaard claimed she confronted Kelly, questioning why she would sell her kid for money. Kelly responded that she needed money and was suffering.
When the witness insisted on condemning Kelly’s actions, Kelly allegedly told her: "It's done, and I can’t do anything about it."
The trial, which is now in its third week, is being held at a community centre in Saldanha.
During the first week of the trial, the court heard details about the day Joshlin went missing, including that Ms Smith only alerted the police more than six hours after she had first noticed that the young girl had disappeared. The court also heard that she appeared calm during the frantic search and seemed more concerned about her boyfriend's whereabouts than the missing child.
Joshlin's teacher then alleged in court that Ms Smith had told her during the search that her daughter was already "on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa".
These revelations paled in comparison to the explosive details made by Lourentia Lombaard, a friend and neighbour of Ms Smith, who turned state witness.
She took the stand last Thursday and, over three days, detailed the events in the lead up to Joshlin's disappearance that involved a traditional healer, known in South Africa as a "sangoma".
Ms Lombaard alleged that her friend confessed to her: "I did something silly … I sold my child to a sangoma", adding that she had been driven by a desperate need for money.
Joshlin's mother promised those who knew of the plan some money in return for their silence, Ms Lombaard said.
She told the court that she later witnessed Ms Smith pack some clothes for Joshlin into a black bag, which she then saw her carry as the two walked to meet a woman Ms Lombaard believes was the sangoma.
Mother and daughter got into a white car and drove away with the woman, Ms Lombaard said.
Speaking on Monday, her last day on the stand, Ms Lombaard told the court that the "person who [allegedly took] Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin".
It was not made clear in court why a sangoma would want a child like this.
A woman believed to be a traditional healer was initially arrested and charged alongside Ms Smith and her co-accused last year, but the charges against her were eventually dropped because of a lack of evidence.
Sangomas are legally recognised in South Africa under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, alongside herbalists, traditional birth attendants and traditional surgeons. It is believed that ancestral spirits are able to provide advice and healing through these culturally respected practitioners.
Some charlatans are involved in unscrupulous traditional so-called cures, and have been known to sell good luck charms that involve body parts.
Ms Lombaard expressed sorrow over her role in Joshlin's disappearance, saying that she had tried, without success, to stop Ms Smith from selling her daughter. She appealed to whoever had taken the young girl to "please bring her back alive".
Kelly’s sister, Mickeyla Daniels, a police officer in Upington in the Northern Cape, claimed that when she contacted Kelly about the missing kid, she was assured Joslin would be found.
Later, Kelly said: "My child is here in the informal settlement, and someone wants to sell my child, but Saldanha is currently a hotspot."
When Mickeyla allegedly asked more questions, Kelly responded that she had already answered them for the police. "I know you’re a police officer, but I'm not going to answer these questions again."
Laurentia Lombaard took to the stand again on Tuesday, this time for cross-examination by the defense counsel.
Previously an accused in the matter, Lombaard became a State witness in October last year and when asked by the State why, she said: “I told myself that I was going to speak the truth as I could no longer hide things”.
Lawyer to Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, Fanie Harmse began his cross-examination.
He asked Lombaard whether she decided to confess to what she knows regarding the matter and she confirmed.
He also questioned her about her boyfriend, Ayanda Letoni. Ayanda has been mentioned multiple times as he was the owner of the carwash in Middelpos.
Lombaard also explained that Ayanda had left Saldanha in March 2024, before her incarceration.
Harmse wanted to know if there had been any interactions between Ayanda and Joshlin.
“No, there were not. Ayanda knew it was Kelly’s child. They just knew each other from seeing one another,” Lombaard told the court.
The court also previously heard that Boeta worked alongside Ayanda at the carwash, Harmse asked Lombaard if she knew how much he earned.
“He helped about a day or two, and I am not sure, it depends how many cars came to the car wash,” Lombaard testified.
Harmse also went back to her previous testimony where she claimed Ayanda had previously sold drugs from their home but stopped.
“I can’t say exactly when he stopped but it was 2022/2023,” Lombaard said.
While Harmse brought up the fact that she was a drug user, he also made it sound rather nonsensical that Ayanda would stop selling drugs.
“Ayanda was a drinker. As the drugs would sell, he would drink the money up. Yes, he bought him alcohol from money from the carwash, but it depended on how each day went. The car wash was not busy every day,” Lombard said.
Harmse also asked Lombaard how many times she smoked drugs.
“I smoke drugs two or three times a day,” Lombaard said.
Previously, Lombaard also testified that she smoked drugs with Kelly and Boeta, but never at her home as Ayanda was too strict. However, when she had her tik (methamphetamine) and lolly, she would smoke at home.
Harmse was left with an egg on his face as he tried to make Lombaard believe this was not what she said.
“Going back to my evidence, you said Kelly and Boeta smoke by my house, Ayanda is strict,” Harmse submitted.
However, the State and Judge Nathan Erasmus jumped in stating this was incorrect.
Judge Erasmus implored the defense to go through the record and see for himself.
The trial is expected to run until 28 March, with the nation anxiously awaiting further developments in this deeply disturbing case.
