CAPE TOWN- The Western Cape High Court heard harrowing testimony from formerly accused witness, Lourentia Lombaard, who detailed the alleged sale of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith for R20,000. The trial is held at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay.
Lombaard testified that Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith revealed the sale agreement to her, stating the deal was finalized on 18 February 2024, the day before Joshlin went missing. According to Lombaard, Kelly offered her money as part of the chilling arrangement.
Lombaard recounted seeing Kelly approach a white VW Polo with moderately tinted windows. A Black woman exited the vehicle, conversed with Kelly, handed her an item, which Kelly then concealed in her front pants pocket. After the exchange, Kelly and Joshlin walked away and later returned to Kelly’s home, while Lombaard briefly went to her own residence before returning to Kelly’s house to overhear more details.
“I watched Kelly show Boeta [Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, Kelly’s boyfriend] R20,000,” Lombaard stated. Boeta questioned Kelly’s intentions, prompting Lombaard to confront Kelly directly.
Kelly allegedly confessed, saying, “I sold my child to a sangoma [traditional healer] because I needed the money and was going through hardship.” Kelly assured Lombaard that a plan would be made to take Joshlin away.
Lombaard also testified that Kelly offered hush money: R1,000 to Lombaard, R1,200 to Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, and the remainder split between Kelly and Boeta. “She said she would give me money to keep quiet because we knew about the plan. I never received any money from Kelly,” Lombaard added.
Kelly Smith, Appollis, and van Rhyn are jointly charged with kidnapping and human trafficking. The court continues to hear testimonies as the case unfolds.
