By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A new suspect in the case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith briefly appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning.
Lourencia “Renz” Lombaard is facing charges of kidnapping and human trafficking in connection with the disappearance of Joshlin.
Western Cape police spokesperson Lt-Col Malcolm Pojie said, Lombaard was arrested on Sunday, without disclosing details.
“Be advised it is normal practice that during such intricate investigations people of interest will be taken in for questioning or will be interviewed with the aim to solve such a case,” he said.
“In the interest of solving this case and finding Joshlin we cannot disclose operational details and give a blow by blow account as the investigation into finding Joshlin unfolds as this can potentially jeopardise investigations.”
During the proceedings, the State revealed that the 32-year-old had made a confession to the police. Lombaard told the court that she wanted to make use of the Legal Aid service.
Fullview understands Lombaard to have been one of the last people who last saw Smith alive on 19 February.
Her mother Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, and a close friend Steveno van Rhyn are also standing trial. At their previous court appearance, the state said it is waiting on cellphone data analysis and the case was postponed to May 13 for further investigation.
Charges were dropped last week against another woman, Phumza Sigaqa, due to insufficient evidence.
Lombaard is expected to be back in court on the 25th of March for a bail information.
A soon as the magistrate left, photographers and videographers circled around Lombaard as they tried to capture pictures and footage of the woman who may hold the key to solving Smith’s disappearance.