In a shocking turn of events, the mother of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, reportedly revealed to her class teacher that her daughter had been taken by boat to West Africa. The revelation came during a tense court session where Smith, alongside her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis and Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, faced serious charges of kidnapping and human trafficking in the Western Cape High Court, convened at the White City Multipurpose Centre.
The testimony of Edna Maart, Joshlin’s teacher, dropped a bombshell as she recounted a conversation she had with Smith the day following Joshlin’s disappearance. Maart disclosed that while they were at a petrol station preparing to assist in the search for Joshlin, Smith confided in her, saying a Nigerian man had contacted her with alarming details regarding her child’s fate.
“The Nigerian man said she must be quick,” Maart recounted, adding, “I asked how the Nigerian knew her number, but she didn’t reply.” The teacher’s account painted a vivid picture of urgency and confusion; Smith allegedly indicated that her daughter was being transported in a container aboard a boat destined for West Africa. When pressed about whether she had informed the police, Smith reportedly failed to provide a clear answer, expressing fears for her safety from the community.
Maart’s testimony provided insights into the emotional turmoil surrounding the case. “She said she was scared the community members would kill her,” she reiterated, highlighting the fear that seemingly gripped Smith. The teacher shared her own astonishment upon learning of the six-year-old’s disappearance, recalling her receipt of a WhatsApp message from a parent around 4:30 am, followed by a distressing phone call with Smith, who was inconsolable and crying.
As the court proceedings progressed, Smith’s lawyer, Rinesh Sivnarain, introduced another twist, alleging that the mysterious Nigerian caller was named “Johan” and claiming that this individual was a medium. The courtroom was filled with a sense of foreboding as the complexities of the case unfolded, raising more questions than answers about the circumstances surrounding Joshlin’s disappearance.
The trial continues.