Joslin Smith’s school, Diazville Primary, has shared a heartbreaking message to the little girl on the first anniversary of her disappearance.

The now 7-year-old went missing from her home in the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay.

She would have been in grade two.

On Facebook, Diazville Primary School remembered Joslin Smith on the first anniversary since her disappearance. The school held a special service where pictures and paintings of the little girl were on display.

Joslin Smith’s mother, Kelly Smith reveals that she took drugs, including tik on the day of her daughter’s disappearance.

MOM AND CO-ACCUSSED TOOK DRUGS?

Daily Maverick reports that Kelly Smith and her co-accused claimed that they took drugs on several occasions and failed to look for Joslin Smith until hours later.

The credibility of state witness Laurentia “Renz” Lombaard’s testimony has been criticised by the defense attorneys in the trial of the missing Saldanha Bay girl, Joslin Smith.

The woman – a former accused who is now a State 204 witness – has been painted as an “unreliable drug addict.”

Lombaard has stated under oath that Joslin’s mother, Kelly Smith, sold her to a sangoma for R20 000.

Kelly, her boyfriend, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, and pal Steveno van Rhyn are all on trial over charges of child trafficking.

The trial is taking place under the High Court, sitting at the Saldanha Bay Centre.

STATE WITNESS ACCUSED OF LYING?

On Tuesday, 18 March, state witness Laurentia Lombaard was cross-examined by the defense attorneys of the three accused.

After her initial arrest last year, Lombaard later turned state witness after making a “confession” to police. Charges against her were provisionally withdrawn.

During her cross-examination, Lombaard admitted to using the drug Tik (crystal meth) two or three times a day.

She also claimed that she had decided to turn state witness as she wanted to “speak the truth as I could no longer hide things.”
Laurentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard is accused of ‘lying’ about Joslin Smith’s disappearance during her testimony.
Images via YouTube screenshot: SABC
Lombaard also conceded that her partner, Ayanda Letoni, had sold drugs from their shack. However, she had asked him to stop.

“I asked Ayanda to quit because he was a drinker. Most of the money he made from selling drugs he drank out. If he gets money from the carwash, he also used it to buy wine”, she said.

Lombaard’s claims were labelled “strange” by the defense.

Lombaard previously claimed in her testimony that Kelly Smith had offered her R1000 in “hush money” after she discovered that Joslin would be sold to a sangoma. She added that she had not received the money, even after confronting Kelly about it.

‘BRING JOSLIN BACK’

A day before her cross-examination, Laurentia Lombaard told the court during her testimony that she felt “hurt” about what happened to Joslin.

She said: “I have four children and didn’t know about Boeta [Jacquen Appollis] and Kelly’s plan. Only after eavesdropping did I later overhear their plan to sell the child. I tried to stop Kelly, but she wouldn’t listen.”

She continued: “Whoever has the child, please bring her back… I feel sad and hurt that I was involved in this case. But my lord, what I said here in court is all my truth”.

WILL SHE GET INDEMNITY?

According to the Criminal Procedure Act, a Section 204 witness can receive indemnity from criminal charges, provided that their testimony and evidence help incriminate the accused.

In the case of Joslin Smith, the National Prosecuting Authority offered Lourentia Lombaard witness protection in exchange for her testimony against Kelly Smith, Boeta Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn.

However, if the court finds that the witness has not testified truthfully, they may face prosecution for perjury and related charges.

Kelly revealed in court that she told her three children on 19 February 2024 that they would not be going to school as their uniforms were dirty and went to work at 7am.

She also said she borrowed R50 from her employer on the day of Joslin’s disappearance and went to buy drugs.

“I went to my home and smoked the drugs with Appollis. I noticed that both my children were still at home. After smoking, I then went back to work around 1pm.”

“Just before 5pm, I borrowed another R200 from (my employer) and proceeded to my home. When I got home, Appollis and Steveno were present.”

She [Kelly] asked about the whereabouts of her children and was told that her younger child was with the godfather. She adds in her statement that her neighbour told her that Joslin was playing at a park.

The six-year-old went missing on 19 February, and her mother, Kelly Smith, reported her missing 16 days ago.

SEARCH FOR JOSLIN SMITH CONTINUES

Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie previously urged South Africans to continue praying for the missing Laerskool Diazville pupil.

The mother of three, who miscarried her unborn baby whilst in police custody was recently mocked for her weight gain on social media.

Minister McKenzie shared a before and after picture of Kelly and said in a Facebook post: “The difference is not jail food but the absence of drugs in her body.”

Byron Krieger: “The rest of her co accuse still looks under fed, the boss always is fatter than their goons.”

Lenie Geldenhuys: “I think her pregnancy also added some weight.”

Lizelle Brand: “The government will continuously take the honest workers tax money to support these people in prison, rehabilitation centres, school, meals daily. They seem to be having better privileges inside.”

Demi Essau: “Was she not pregnant or was it just the vette?”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF JOSLIN SMITH’S MOM’S CLAIMS?

After a message of encouragement from a local pastor, Joslin’s classmates released white balloons into the air.

The school posted: “We continue to pray for her safe return and will never forget her.

“As the balloons rise, we send our thoughts, prayers, and hope for Joslin. They represent our love for her.

“The school still hopes for her safe return.”

Meanwhile, the community of Diazville partook in a clean-up project of the neighbourhood in memory of Joslin Smith.

Facilitated by the Patriotic Alliance, volunteers removed dirt and debris outside the missing girl’s tin shack in the Middelpos informal settlement.

The community also organised an awareness march in memory of Joslin.

MOTHER ON TRIAL FOR KIDNAPPING, CHILD TRAFFICKING

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Joslin Smith was allegedly sold by her mother, Kelly Smith,  partner Jacquin “Boeta” Apollis, and a male friend, Steveno van Rhyn, to finance their drug habit.

The trio are currently being charged with kidnapping and child trafficking.  They will make their next appearance in the Western Cape High Court on 28 February.

According to Judge Gayaat Da Silva Salie, a case of missing persons is still registered for Joslin; hence, the court “must assume that she is still alive.”