By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The court appearance of four suspects implicated in the dissapearance of six year-old Joslin Smith, who went missing more than two weeks ago, has been postponed in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on the Cape West Coast.
The little girl went missing while playing outside her home in Middelpos informal settlement in Diazville, Saldanha Bay, on 19 February.
The missing Saldanha girl’s 33-year-old mother, Kelly Smith; her boyfriend Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis; Stefano van Rhyn and sangoma Phumza Sigaca made their appearance in a packed Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning, 7 March.
The state alleges that the mother instructed Appollis and Van Rhyn on 19 February to sell Joslin to a traditional healer for R20 000.
They face charges of human trafficking for purposes of exploitation and kidnapping.
The four suspects – who hail from Middelpos, in Diazville – have been remanded until 13 March. They have all indicated that they will be seeking legal assistance.
Speaking outside court, Western Cape Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen said the police are a step closer to finding Joslin.
“We sincerely trust that the investigation will now unfold in terms of what has happened. But we are still keeping hope alive, knowing that we ultimately want to find Joslin unharmed.
“We are aware that further charges can still be added to the sheet, and we will be closely working with SAPS to ensure that no stone is left unturned.”
Two of Joslin’s siblings have been placed in the care of social workers, according to the Western Cape’s acting MEC for Social Development Nomafrench Mbombo.
“My appeal is about, at least, if we could be able to identify and get to know the whereabouts of Joslin. It doesn’t matter whether it comes as a body or what, but that is all we want to know.”
Western Cape’s police commissioner, Thembisile Patakile, said efforts to find the missing girl would continue.
“As the investigation leads us, we will follow the lead. If more people are to be arrested, then so be it. Because, at this stage, we do not have the child.
“Our ultimate goal is to find the child so that there can be closure. We pray that we find that child alive. We make an appeal to everyone to assist us to find the child,” he added.
Patakile further warned members of the public not to interfere with police investigations.
“There is legislation, in terms of the Cybercrime Act, that a person can be charged for distributing false information. We only work with facts.”
Outside the court, scores of people chanted: “We want Joshlin,” and, “Kelly, jy’s n gemors,” while Public Order Police guarded the main entrance to the court.
As the accused were loaded into a police van parked at the back of the building, some of the locals who were allowed inside the court grounds, lashed out at Kelly and said she should lead police to Joshlin.