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Trio to Appear in Court for Disappearance of Joshlin Smith in Saldanha Bay

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The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Joshlin Smith from Saldanha Bay will take a significant step forward this week, as the three people implicated in the case are set to appear in the Western Cape High Court. Joshlin, a green-eyed girl from Saldanha Bay, vanished on February 19, 2024, under mysterious circumstances.

At around 5 p.m. on that fateful day, Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, returned home to find her daughter missing. According to police reports, Kelly initially couldn’t find Joshlin and later contacted her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, who had been responsible for looking after the child. However, Appollis was unable to account for her whereabouts.

Joshlin, who was last seen wearing a light blue T-shirt and light blue denim shorts, also has a distinguishing birthmark on her left arm, which was noted in police reports. Despite efforts to locate her, Joshlin’s whereabouts remain unknown, with authorities and the community continuing their search for the missing girl.

On March 7, 2024, three suspects – Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith; her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis; and Steveno van Rhyn – were arrested in connection with her disappearance. The State initially charged other individuals, but the charges against them were later withdrawn.

The three primary suspects will now face their fate in the Western Cape High Court, as their case progresses to a pre-trial hearing. A judge will be allocated to the case, and a trial date will be set. However, it remains uncertain whether an immediate trial date will be scheduled.

The indictment presented to the court reveals shocking details, including statements from former accused-turned-state witness, Laurentia Lombaard. Lombaard claimed that in August 2023, Kelly Smith had communicated plans to have her children either taken away or sold. This plan, according to Lombaard, was supposed to be executed in early 2024.

Further details from the indictment suggest that on February 18, 2024, the day before Joshlin went missing, Kelly and Joshlin walked to a white vehicle parked near their home. An unknown woman allegedly handed something to Kelly before the two returned home. The next day, on February 19, Kelly supposedly packed Joshlin’s clothes into a bag and left for work, leaving the children in the care of Appollis, van Rhyn, and Lombaard.

Later that day, Kelly is said to have returned home, collected Joshlin, and left with her in a white vehicle. Hours later, Kelly reported Joshlin missing to the police, prompting an investigation that has yet to yield answers about her whereabouts.

As of today, Joshlin has been missing for 343 days, and the search continues. The community remains hopeful that the ongoing investigations and court proceedings will bring them closer to finding the young girl.

The trio of suspects are expected to appear in the Western Cape High Court for their pre-trial hearing on Friday, January 31, 2025. As the case unfolds, the hope for answers remains strong, with the public eagerly awaiting the truth behind Joshlin’s disappearance.

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