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‘I Did It for the Mothers’: Shack Arson Accused in Joshlin Case Out on Bail

Published

4 months ago

May 13, 2025

taryn

The woman accused of torching the shack of Racquel “Kelly” Smith, the mother of missing child Joshlin Smith, has been granted bail after her second court appearance.
Monique Kekana, 27, appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing a charge of arson related to the 2 May blaze in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay.

The fire occurred just hours after Smith, her boyfriend Jacques “Boeta” Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn were found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking linked to the disappearance of Joshlin Smith.

Kekana handed herself over to police and was taken into custody on 5 May.

During proceedings, the court was told she had no prior convictions or outstanding cases. She was released on R500 bail, and the matter was postponed to 27 June.

Read More: Guilty verdict brings no answers on Joshlin’s whereabouts

Outside court, Kekana told journalists that she deliberately set the shack on fire due to frustration over Kelly Smith’s silence throughout her trial. She claimed her actions were driven by emotional distress and solidarity with other mothers.

“She knows where the child is and she knows the child is not dead. I just wanted to open her mouth because we are also mothers,” said Kekana. “So I did it because I’m also a mother. I was also arrested, but I learned from my mistake.”

Joshlin Smith was reported missing on 19 February 2024.
Smith and the two co-accused are due to be sentenced on 29 May.