The trial of Kelly Smith, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn entered its second day at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha Bay on Tuesday.
Responding officer shares account of the day Joshlin was reported missing
The three are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking following the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith in February 2024.
On Monday, the State called its first witness, Constable Yanga Gongotha, one of the responding officers when Joshlin was reported missing.
Gongotha testified that Kelly Smith appeared “unbothered” and more focused on her boyfriend than her missing daughter.
“She didn’t seem concerned that her child was missing. Instead, she wanted us to find her boyfriend,” Gongotha stated in court.
During the search, Smith reportedly engaged in casual conversation with Appollis once he was found.
“She was not asking about her daughter or where she could be. She was asking about unrelated things,” the officer added.
The cross-examination of Gongotha was expected to continue on Tuesday, with Kelly’s lawyer, Rinesh Sivnarain, attempting to dispute his account.
Meanwhile, Steveno van Rhyn’s lawyer, Nobahle Mkabayi, petitioned for her client to be moved from solitary confinement at Malmesbury Prison to a communal cell.
Rumours circulate of the latest Joshlin Smith sighting
A Facebook page dedicated to updates on Joshlin Smith’s case has shared claims of new footage that allegedly shows the missing child.
“𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵,” read a post on the page.
The footage is said to be in possession of an individual named Greg from Pay It Forward, and some sources claim it is indeed Joshlin.
However, the exact location of the sighting remains undisclosed, and authorities have yet to verify the authenticity of the footage.
While the news has sparked hope, officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions until a formal investigation is conducted.
Watch live: How to watch the trial proceedings
The trial proceedings are being closely followed by the public. For those interested in watching, live coverage is available below.
