The trial revolving around the mysterious disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith has taken a dramatic turn as key state witness Laurentia Lombaard disclosed alarming information about the child’s mother, Kelly Smith. Lombaard, a former accused turned witness, shared in court that Smith allegedly confessed to being paid to remain silent about the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s disappearance.
As the trial entered its third week, Lombaard took the stand, offering a comprehensive recount of events leading up to the night Joshlin vanished. Her emotional testimony began on Thursday and culminated in a heartfelt appeal yesterday, where she expressed deep remorse for her involvement. “I feel very hurt. I am a mother of four, and I didn’t know the plans Kelly and Boeta had. I only overheard them later discussing plans to sell the child. I tried to stop her [Kelly], but she wouldn’t listen,” said Lombaard, tearfully addressing the court.
Lombaard’s statements became increasingly chilling as she recounted a conversation with Kelly following Joshlin’s disappearance on February 20, 2024. According to Lombaard, Smith told her, “Renz, I know what I did to Joshlin. There was someone who paid me to keep quiet.” Persevering in her quest for truth, Lombaard pressed Smith for the identity of the individual who allegedly compelled her silence. However, Smith did not reveal a name, stating instead that “the person who was looking for Joshlin was looking for her [Joshlin’s] eyes and skin.”
The unsettling revelations continued to surface as Smith’s sister, Mickeyla Daniels, took to the witness stand. A constable in the Public Order Policing (POP) unit based in Upington, Daniels recounted the harrowing moment she learned of Joshlin’s disappearance from their mother. “I sent Kelly a message before 1pm. She did not reply. I sent another message before 7pm asking if Joshlin had been found. She didn’t answer,” Daniels recounted, emphasising the eerie silence that surrounded her sister’s plea for help.
Compounding the distress, a voice note from Kelly sent the following day stated that while Joshlin had not yet been found, she asserted that she would “get her back” that same day. Daniels further testified that Kelly mentioned the child was in an informal settlement and that “someone wants to sell my child, but Saldanha is currently a hotspot.”
As the courtroom grappled with the weight of the witness testimony, the sentiments expressed by Lombaard echoed with poignant urgency. “Wherever she is [Joshlin]… I appeal to whoever has the child. Please bring her home. I hope the child is alive. I am so sorry that I was involved,” she concluded, leaving many in the room in tears as the search for Joshlin continues.
The trial continues.