Jacquen Appollis’s alleged confession was played in court on Day 23, marking one of the most revealing sessions of the trial-within-a-trial.
Joshlin Smith trial today: Here’s a breakdown of what happened
The recording, filmed by Warrant Officer Masibuko Sylvester Meyi and conducted by Colonel Pretorius, showed Jacquen detailing the events leading up to and following Joshlin Smith’s disappearance.
Jacquen Appollis’s alleged confession unpacked: This is what he revealed
In the video, Jacquen confirmed that on 18 February 2024, Kelly Smith told him she was tired of Joshlin’s father and adoptive guardian, Ms Andews, who testified earlier in the main trial, trying to take the child.
The next day, Kelly allegedly told him she had made arrangements with Phumza Sigaqa (referred to as Ma Ka Lima) and instructed him to take Joshlin to her in exchange for R20,000.
Jacquen and Steveno van Rhyn then walked with Joshlin to Ma Ka Lima’s house, where the child stayed behind, playing with four other children.
He claimed that he and Steveno returned home and later went out to sell a microwave, purchase drugs, and use substances with Kelly.
According to Jacquen, by the time he got home around midnight, police had already been contacted about Joshlin’s disappearance.
During the video, Jacquen showed visible injuries—limping, a swollen foot, a bruised eye, and a knee injury. He was seen pointing out each of these to the officer conducting the interview.
He confirmed the R20,000 was for the child, though he claimed not to know what happened to Joshlin afterward.
He also stated that Kelly and Ma Ka Lima orchestrated the deal, and he and Steveno were only involved in the delivery. He maintained he did not know when the two women discussed the sale or where Joshlin was now.
Court corrects Steveno’s alleged confession on record: Here’s what he told police
The court resumed on Friday, with Captain Seekoe returning to the stand to address inconsistencies in the manuscript and video of Steveno’s interview.
Seekoe admitted some interactions had not been transcribed and apologised. He confirmed he read the statement back to Steveno, who accepted and signed it.
The judge, having watched the full video privately, was more at ease but acknowledged the inconsistencies.
Notably, Steveno had confirmed that Kelly instructed Jacquen to take Joshlin to Ma Ka Lima.
He stated they left Joshlin there and later returned to ask for his share of the transaction. He also claimed a man in a red t-shirt was involved in collecting the child.
The court officially corrected the record of Steveno’s confession, noting details like the time and location of events and reaffirming that Steveno denied any involvement in Joshlin’s disappearance, despite acknowledging the handover.
Witnesses who testified today: Here’s what was said
Two witnesses took the stand alongside Captain Seekoe and a Dr Tania from Vredenburg Hospital.
Warrant Officer Masibuko Sylvester Meyi confirmed he was the videographer during Jacquen’s interview. He testified that the video played in court accurately reflected the events of 5 March 2024.
Dr Tania, the clinical manager at Vredenburg Hospital, conducted a post-confession examination of Steveno on the same day. She identified injuries on Steveno’s knee, wrist, shoulder, and elbow but clarified they were not fresh and had begun healing.
She explained the examination was guided by what Steveno reported, and she did not conduct a full-body assessment unless injuries were pointed out.
Under cross-examination, Dr Tania maintained that had Steveno suffered the type of assault described by the defence, more serious injuries such as deep abrasions or fractures would likely have been present.
She did not observe any new trauma. When questioned about Jacquen’s claims of “helicopter-style” torture, she confirmed such treatment would likely result in injuries behind the knees and visible abrasions—even if the person wore pants.
Dr Tania confirmed police were present during the exam but explained this was standard protocol. She acknowledged that Steveno may not have disclosed additional injuries if he felt unsafe, though he never indicated otherwise.
Here’s what happens next in the trial-within-a-trial
Proceedings will continue on Monday, 7 April 2025.
Judge Nathan Erasmus has stated that although the contents of the statements from both Steveno and Jacquen may not meet the full legal definition of a confession, they contain damaging admissions.
Kelly Smith was present in court today, marking her return after a recent medical absence. With video confessions now officially entered into the record and their content being weighed, the trial-within-a-trial enters a critical phase.
The defence is expected to challenge both the method of obtaining the statements and their admissibility. The state, meanwhile, is under pressure to maintain its footing after a week of procedural and evidentiary missteps.