The trial surrounding the abduction of six-year-old Joshlin Smith took a dramatic twist as key State witness Lourentia Lombaard collapsed in court after a taxing cross-examination. Following her sudden onset of dizziness, courtroom officials had to carry Lombaard out of the Western Cape High Court sitting at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, where she was promptly attended to by medical personnel. This unprecedented incident unfolded as Lombaard was expected to conclude her testimony regarding the complicated web of relationships and events leading to Joshlin’s disappearance on February 19, 2024.
Joshlin, a spirited child from Middelpos in Saldanha Bay, has been missing for over a year prompting a cloud of anguish and uncertainty to envelop her family and community. The principal accused in this disturbing case, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and their associate Steveno van Rhyn, stand accused of kidnapping and human trafficking. Each faces the possibility of life in prison on the charge of human trafficking if convicted. The courtroom has been tense, and the pressure is palpable as Lombaard, who entered the witness stand on March 13, revealed a tumultuous relationship with Smith, who had suspected her of an affair with Appollis.
As the cross-examination progressed, Lombaard painted a picture of friendship tinged with jealousy and misunderstandings. “Kelly and I were close; we spoke about our personal lives. Sometimes she was nice, and at times she would be angry and shout at me,” she testified. She elaborated on an instance when Smith accused her and Appollis of being too intimate, saying, “She was jealous of me because she thought that Boeta and I were having an affair behind her back.” This volatile friendship, marred by accusations and mistrust, ultimately formed a foundation for the alleged tragic events that ensued.
Smith, in motive-driven despair, allegedly sold her daughter to a sangoma for R20,000, with Lombaard claiming she was promised R1,000 for her silence. As the cross-examination intensified, Lombaard’s health began to fail. Before questioning could resume, presiding Judge Nathan Erasmus cautioned her to speak up if she felt unable to continue, emphasising the importance of her clarity in testimony. “Listen, think. If you’re tired, say it,” he advised, a reminder of the gravity resting on her words.
The atmosphere in the courtroom shifted as Lombaard’s condition deteriorated, with the alarming sounds of a blood pressure monitor reverberating in the silence following her collapse. While her future testimony remains uncertain, her claims have already been fiercely contested. Van Rhyn’s attorney, Nobahle Mkabayi, aggressively challenged Lombaard’s credibility, accusing her of unjustly implicating his client due to emotional setbacks stemming from her boyfriend’s alleged involvement with the police. “You can’t say that he was part of the discussion if he didn’t bring any ideas or opinions,” she pressed, to which Lombaard remained steadfast, insisting that Van Rhyn had indeed participated in the discussions about the alleged crime.
In a poignant moment, Mkabayi confronted Lombaard’s moral standing, questioning her feelings as she prepared food for Joshlin while knowing the child was, in part, a means to her financial gain. “How did you look at her as you were making food, knowing she was your ticket to get R1,000?” Lombaard’s inability to provide an answer only deepened the complexities surrounding her testimony, leaving the courtroom in a stark silence.
As the trial unfolds, the ramifications of these testimonies could prove crucial in determining the fate of those involved. The future of Joshlin’s case hangs in the balance, and with Lombaard’s health now a concern, the court awaits her return to the stand with bated breath.