The highly followed trial of Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn, accused in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, entered its fourth day against a backdrop of tense court sessions and a dramatic on-site inspection.
Day 4 of the Joshlin Smith trial: Here’s what happened today
In a makeshift Western Cape High Court at the White City Multipurpose Centre, the focus remained on unravelling key police procedures and the chain of events that led to Joshlin’s unresolved disappearance in February 2024.
Colonel Sebola Resumes Testimony
The day began with presiding Judge Nathan Erasmus lifting a temporary ruling he handed down on Wednesday, granting permission for Colonel Lyndon Sebola, station commander in Saldanha Bay, to be shown on camera due to heightened public interest.
Having served more than 20 years in the SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units, Sebola returned to the stand to expand on his earlier testimony.
Sebola described how official search efforts on 21 February 2024 began at 09:00, with a multidisciplinary team redirecting resources to areas overlooked the previous day.
Crowds had initially gathered at Kelly Smith’s residence where a K9 unit team handling sniffer dogs drew attention away from other locations.
The station commander admitted that progress was often slowed by “dead ends” and spurts of community unrest.
He recalled a visit by then-Police Minister Bheki Cele to the search site on 2 March, noting that Cele held private discussions with Kelly Smith.
Sebola himself had minimal contact with Kelly but observed her behaviour as “nonchalant,” revealing an offhand comment she allegedly made:
“My child has made me famous.”
This remark reportedly disturbed him.
Sebola also mentioned that local authorities arranged temporary safe accommodation for Kelly the day before the meeting with Cele amid growing community hostility toward her.
Her reluctance to separate from Jacquen, he noted, took precedence over concern for her other children, a boy aged 11 and her two-year-old daughter, who were no longer in her immediate care.
Dramatic Site Visit and Public Backlash
Following Sebola’s testimony, the court adjourned to conduct a site visit to significant locations tied to Joshlin’s disappearance.
A large media contingent accompanied court officials, prosecutors, and the accused.
Despite heavy police presence, the crowd that assembled voiced anger, chanting “We want Joshlin” and directing suspicion toward Kelly and her co-accused.
The situation became tense enough that Kelly was swiftly escorted away for her own safety.
Faced with the risk of mob retaliation, the court limited public proximity for the remainder of the visit. Officers removed Kelly’s shackles to prevent further injury.
Defence Cross-Examination of the Station Commander
When court resumed after 14:00, both defence teams for Appollis and van Rhyn stated they had no additional cross-examination, choosing not to challenge Colonel Sebola’s version of events.
After all, Sebola had neither implicated Appollis nor van Rhyn in his testimony.
Counsel for Kelly, however, questioned whether the K9 Unit arrived only on 21 February or had already been involved on 20 February, suggesting possible inconsistencies in Sebola’s recollection.
Sebola held firm that the dogs had been present from 14:00 on 20 February.
Kelly’s lawyer argued the safehouse arrangements were primarily to protect police from public scrutiny if harm befell Kelly. Sebola disputed that narrative, emphasising that the accommodation was offered because of credible threats from angered residents.
What to expect from Day 5 of the trial
With the station commander’s testimony largely unchallenged by two of the defence teams, the trial moves closer to examining the detective work that underpins the State’s case.
Prosecutors are expected to call a SAPS detective next, potentially providing new insight into the findings that led to charges against Kelly, Jacquen, and Steveno.
Meanwhile, looming in the background is the pivotal role of Lourentia Lombaard—the once-accused, now State witness, whose immunity deal hinges on her cooperation.
Steveno maintains he last saw Joshlin alive in Lourentia’s company, raising questions about her credibility and prompting speculation about the nature of her forthcoming testimony.
For now, the search for the truth hinges on meticulous reconstruction of events and a careful cross-examination of each witness.
As the court prepares for Day 5, tension remains high among onlookers who continue to rally for answers and accountability in the unexplained disappearance of young Joshlin Smith.
