By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The cross-examination of key state witness Lourentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard continued this morning, her testimony continues to reveal notable inconsistencies.
Throughout the proceedings, Lombaard’s behaviour has drawn doubt that she is telling the truth — she appears evasive and has failed to maintain a firm and consistent account.
The trial concerning Joshlin Smith kidnapping is now in its third and final week at the Western Cape High Court.
Since the proceedings began earlier this month, the court has heard disturbing testimonies from multiple witnesses.
During the proceedings today, the Western Court high court heard that Kelly Smith was the instigator and executor of the plan to sell her daughter to a sangoma on 19 February 2024.
This was according to Lombaard who, before she became a state witness last year and was also set to profit from her silence, was accused number four in the kidnapping and human trafficking charges brought against Smith, her partner Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis and the couple’s friend, Stefano van Rhyn.
Judge Nathan Erasmus on Monday gave a “summary” of Lombaard’s often confusing testimony — not helped by very different versions of events given by Lombaard in her initial talks with police, her confession statement and the statement she gave when she became a state witness.
Her testimony is also difficult to follow because of the pedantic and “long-winded” — as Erasmus has described them — cross-examination questions from advocate Fanie Harmse, acting on behalf of Appollis.
Lombaard has only a grade seven education, and Harmse has not appeared to take this into account during his questioning, leading Erasmus to chide him about the way he quizzes the “unsophisticated” witness.
Erasmus said to her: “She [Kelly Smith] came up with the plan and she first told Appollis ‘Boeta’ while they were standing outside [their shack on Sunday 18 February, 2024] and you overheard this plan.”
“That’s correct,” replied Lombaard, cutting a more confident figure than she did last week, when Erasmus pointing out the inconsistencies in her statements led to her bursting into tears.
Continued Erasmus: “And the way you understand it, from what you heard, [Appollis] wasn’t really interested in the beginning, because he said something in the vein of, ‘Ek het nie lus for jou nonsens nie.’ (I am not in the mood for your nonsense.)
“Now, I am going to stay with Mr Appollis for a moment,” said the judge. “He did nothing more but to help with the cover-up … Furthermore, you can’t say anything [about him being] involved in the disappearance?”
“That’s correct.”
“Turning to van Rhyn, Stefano, on the surface it looks like he was only there by chance, like you. He didn’t say much, he didn’t do anything,” said Erasmus.
“That’s correct.”
According to testimony from various witnesses thus far — the trial is in its fourth and what should be its final week — Smith first told an evangelist and part-time handyman in 2023 that she wanted to sell all three of her children because of “financial difficulties”.
The matter is set to continue until 28 March.