By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Joshlin Smith case has been postponed to allow the State to complete its investigation amid new evidence that has resurfaced.
The State indicated that it needed more time for further investigation as new information had come to light.
State prosecutor advocate Aradhana Heeramun told the court that new evidence regarding this matter and the accused had come to light.
Magistrate Theresa Postma, however, made it clear that this will be the final postponement.
The Grade 1 Diazville Primary School pupil vanished nearly seven months ago from the Middelpos Informal Settlement, near Saldanha Bay, on 19 February 2024.
Since then, an extensive search operation − which has extended as far as the United Kingdom (UK) alongside Interpol − was launched to locate the six-year-old girl.
Her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and the couple’s friends Steveno van Rhyn and Lourentia “Renze” Lombaard were arrested and charged with human trafficking and kidnapping in March this year.
A heavily pregnant Smith dressed in a floral high-collared shirt and a black puffer jacket – briefly appeared in the dock alongside her co-accused at the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court.
They were handed an indictment and summary of facts before Postma transferred the matter to the Western Cape High Court where the trial is set to continue on 21 October 2024.
Western Cape NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila stated that the case was at a very sensitive stage of the investigation, and said he could not disclose any information about it.
On the possibility of a new suspect being arrested, Ntabazalila stated that there was no possibility of there being new suspects as the evidence related to the current accused in the case.
“I spoke with the investigating officer, they were here two weeks ago. They are still conducting the investigation, and he tells me they have probed every lead whenever they receive calls indicating that something has occurred. The investigating team goes to speak with people, including psychics who make calls,” he said.