By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The fourth accused arrested in connection with the disappearance of six-year-old Joslin Smith, from Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, has abandoned her bail application.
Lourentia Lombaard, 31, made her second appearance in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
She was arrested two weeks ago and faces charges of trafficking in persons for the purpose of exploitation and kidnapping.
During her court appearance, Lombaard, who had opted for Legal Aid representation, abandoned her bid for bail.
She stood in the dock with a slight smirk on her face.
The matter was postponed and she will join her co-accused in court on May 13.
She has been remanded in custody.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority Eric Ntabazalila told the media outside court investigations into the matter continues.
“If she does apply for bail, we will oppose the bail because it is a schedule 6 case and we do not think its in the interest of justice for her to be released on bail. More charges are likely to come up as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile self-confessed tik user and the mother of Joshlin Raquel “Kelly” Smith, is pregnant.
This as she is awaiting trial while behind bars in Cape Town’s notorious Pollsmoor Prison.
Kelly has been charged alongside her boyfriend Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, close friend Steveno van Rhyn and her Middelpos neighbour Lombaard with human trafficking and kidnapping.
The 33-year-old mother of three left Joshlin in the care of Appollis on 19 February when she went to work.
On her return to the couple’s tin and wooden shack at around 5pm, Joshlin was missing. At the time, Appollis denied any involvement in her disappearance, claiming that the last time he saw her was when she went to play outside.
Despite an extensive search operation along the West Coast, the Grade 1 Diazville Primary School pupil has not been found.