The mother of a six-year-old girl who vanished over a year ago in South Africa is currently facing trial on charges of orchestrating her kidnapping.
Kelly Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their associate Steveno van Rhyn, was apprehended following the disappearance of Smith’s daughter, Joshlin, who went missing from outside their residence in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, in February of the previous year.
The case of Joshlin’s disappearance caused widespread alarm throughout South Africa, and despite extensive media coverage and search efforts, she has not yet been located.
All three individuals have entered pleas of not guilty to allegations of human trafficking and kidnapping. Initially, Ms. Smith claimed that Joshlin had gone missing while in the care of Mr. Appollis.
However, prosecutors later accused her of having “sold, delivered or exchanged” the six-year-old and of fabricating details regarding her disappearance.
A significant and thorough search was launched for the young girl, but focus shifted to Ms. Smith after her friend and former co-defendant, Lorentia Lombaard, became a state witness, as reported by South Africa’s Daily Maverick news outlet.
The search even garnered the attention of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, who offered a reward of one million rand (£42,500; $54,000) for her safe return.
The trial is scheduled to take place from March 3 to March 28 at the Saldanha multi-purpose center, which has been converted into a high court specifically for this case.
A judge overseeing the proceedings earlier this year noted that the venue was chosen to “ensure the community has access” to the trial throughout its duration.
