The continuation of the kidnapping case of seven-year-old Joshlin Smith, the Cape High Court sits today in Saldanha Bay, where the focus is on the contentious admissibility of confession statements made by two accused individuals. This trial within a trial explores serious allegations of police misconduct, including claims of torture and coercion purportedly inflicted on the defendants.
The case centres on Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn, who are charged with the heinous crime of kidnapping and human trafficking. The specifics surrounding Joshlin’s disappearance remain horrifyingly vivid—she went missing from the Middlepos informal settlement in February of last year, plunging the community into turmoil.
Recent testimonies presented in court have intensified the drama. State witness Lourentia Lombaard recounted a chilling conversation with Kelly Smith, who allegedly confessed to selling her daughter to a sangoma for the sum of R20 000 shortly before Joshlin vanished. This stark revelation has raised eyebrows and prompted a deeper inquiry into the circumstances of the girl’s disappearance.
Meanwhile, Jacquen Appollis took the stand this week, maintaining his narrative of victimhood, alleging police brutality during his arrest. Appollis claimed that officers assaulted him with batons before he provided a statement in March of last year, a declaration that casts significant doubt on the legitimacy of the confession he gave under apparent duress.
The implications of this trial extend beyond the immediate legal proceedings—this case shines a spotlight on the larger issues of human trafficking and the vulnerability of children in South Africa. As the court deliberates the admissibility of these confessions, the outcomes could have far-reaching effects not only for the accused but also for the perceived integrity of law enforcement practices in the region.
As the trial unfolds, observers await the court’s decisions regarding the admissibility of evidence and the impact it will have on this high-profile case, which has drawn considerable public attention and concern.
