Joshlin Smith: Suspects brought before court again

The four people, alleged to be involved in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, are expected to appear in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, Stevano van Rhyn, and alleged sangoma Phumza Sigaqa face charges of trafficking in persons and kidnapping. This will be the group’s second court appearance and they have officially applied for legal aid.

The legal representatives for the quartet are expected to come on record.

At their last appearance, the matter was postponed for bail information. This means the court needs to find substantial and stable addresses and information on where they would be living should they be granted bail during the duration of these proceedings.

Joshlin remains missing.

The Grade 1 learner from Diazville disappeared without a trace on February 19, just after 5pm.

On Tuesday, March 5, a source revealed to IOL that a suspect had been arrested after a confession. The suspect is understood to have told police that Joshlin was sold to a woman for around R20,000.

Police are yet to confirm this information and court proceedings may reveal what really happened to Joshlin.

At the time of Joshlin’s disappearance, Smith told police that when she had returned home after being out for the day, she had looked for the child but could not find her.

She later got hold of her boyfriend, Appollis, who was supposed to look after Joshlin, but he could not account for her whereabouts.

Joshlin was last seen wearing a light blue T-shirt and light blue denim shorts. She also has a birthmark located on her left arm.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

IOL

• Dangers of social media: Suspect initially implicated in Joshlin Smith’s disappearance via social media now in “safe space”

• Thousands sign petition to deny bail to suspects in Joshlin Smith's trafficking case

• Joshlin Smith’s siblings in the custody of relatives

• Joshlin Smith: Hundreds bay for blood of the accused outside court

• Joshlin Smith update: Case against four arrested, including her mother, postponed

• Missing Joshlin Smith: Suspects in her disappearance to be hauled before court

• Joshlin Smith update: Residents call for police to be transparent

• Joshlin Smith update: Police confirm four people taken in for questioning

• Police have arrested a suspect accused of selling missing Joshlin Smith

• Missing Joshlin Smith latest: SAPS urge public to refrain from filming searches

• WATCH: Joshlin described as a loving, well-mannered little girl who crept into the hearts of many in her community

• Eleven days later: ‘Joshlin, we are waiting for you,’ says schooling community

• PICS: Ten days later: community continues searching for Joshlin Smith

• Police scale down on search for Joshlin Smith

• ‘You will be held accountable,’ Saldanha Bay Mayor Andrè Truter says on spreading misinformation on Joshlin Smith’s disappearance

• Eight days later: Joshlin Smith still missing, mother’s boyfriend speaks

• Search continues for missing girl from Saldanha