The Joshlin Smith trial enters its ninth day today, with more witness testimony expected as the case against Kelly Smith and her co-accused unfolds.
What to expect from the Joshlin Smith trial on Day 9
Yesterday’s proceedings revealed startling claims about Kelly’s behaviour before and after Joshlin’s disappearance, including an alleged conversation months before the child went missing and her reaction to the growing media attention.
As the trial continues, the State is set to present further evidence and testimony that could shed more light on the circumstances surrounding Joshlin’s disappearance.
Readers can follow today’s proceedings live via our streaming link as new developments emerge.
Recap of Day 8: Key testimonies and new revelations
On Day 8, the court heard from Nico Kotze, a general worker and self-described evangelist, who testified about an unsettling conversation he had with Kelly Smith in August 2023—months before Joshlin vanished.
Kotze recalled encountering Kelly while walking to work one morning. She was jogging in denim shorts and pink flip-flops when she allegedly made a chilling statement:
“Come January or February, it will be like a movie in Saldanha Bay. People will search, but they will find nothing.”
She then added, “By then, the child will be too far.”
Kotze said Kelly mentioned that she was expecting R20,000 from someone but would settle for R5,000. When he asked who would take the children, she reportedly did not answer.
His testimony suggested that Kelly may have anticipated a situation where Joshlin would go missing, leading to increased public attention.
Kotze further testified that he saw Kelly again in March 2024, weeks after Joshlin had disappeared. He attended a religious gathering on 3 March and was shocked to see Kelly celebrating and dancing on stage despite her daughter being missing.
His statement aligned with the testimony of Shakeera Ganief, the witness who spoke before him. Ganief, a social activist known for raising awareness about Joshlin’s disappearance, confirmed that Kelly seemed elated during this event and enjoyed being the centre of attention.
Ganief testified about a video call she had with Kelly on 20 February 2024, the day after Joshlin vanished. She said Kelly did not behave like a mother whose child was missing and seemed indifferent.
During the call, Ganief asked Kelly where Joshlin was, to which she replied “Boeta.” When pressed on whether Boeta (Jacquen Appollis) had done something to Joshlin, Kelly allegedly became aggressive and defensive.
Ganief also described noticing Kelly’s hands, saying her fingernails were blackened, as if she had been digging in dirt.
When Ganief later joined the search efforts in Saldanha Bay, she said Kelly was rarely involved and dismissed the need to search, reportedly telling people:
“Stop searching and let the police do their work.”
Ganief also testified that Kelly enjoyed the media attention, recalling a moment where she allegedly said:
“I always wanted to be famous, but I never knew it would be because of Joshlin.”
Before Kotze’s testimony, the court also heard from Joshlin’s Grade 1 teacher, Tahirih Edna Maart, who described the child’s quiet and attention-seeking behavior in class.
Maart also revealed a chilling conversation she had with Kelly four days after Joshlin disappeared.
She testified that on 23 February 2024, Kelly approached her at a fuel station, got into her car, and confided in her. Kelly allegedly said she had received a call from a Nigerian man who warned her to “move quickly” because Joshlin was already on a boat heading to West Africa.
When Maart asked if Kelly had informed the police, Kelly reportedly refused, saying she was afraid of how the people in Saldanha Bay would react.
Before leaving the car, Kelly whispered:
“Boeta is not guilty.”
Maart later realised that “Boeta” was a reference to Jacquen Appollis, one of the accused.
We did a full breakdown of the significance of a timeline lapse in Kelly’s version of the event the day Joshlin went missing. You can watch it below:
