The courtroom was the latest scene for developments in the case of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, who disappeared on Monday, 19 February 2024.
Suspects in Joshlin Smith disappearance appear in court
Western Cape police confirmed that the case regarding the disappearance of Joslin Smith was scheduled for a hearing at the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court in the West Coast, on Thursday.
However, the specifics regarding the number of individuals set to appear before the judge and the charges they face remained undisclosed.
Amid the uncertainty, the grief-stricken father of Joshlin Smith shared his longing for a resolution, urging those responsible to return his daughter.
“I just want the people that took my child to bring her back because how would they feel if their child just disappeared like that?” he said
According to reports, two men, after a lengthy 36-hour police interrogation, allegedly admitted to a harrowing crime: selling the missing child for muti purposes.
Was Joshlin sold for muti?
The investigation took a shocking turn earlier this week when Joshlin’s own mother, Kelly Smith, and her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, were taken into custody over the six-year-old’s disappearance.
They are accused of trafficking their daughter to a sangoma, a traditional healer, for R20 000.
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie provided an update on the community-led efforts to find Joshlin.
“We have two eye witnesses who both confirmed that they saw Joshlin; we dispatched a whole group of people who went to exact areas. We informed crime intelligence and police,” he stated.
The discovery of an abandoned vehicle with open doors in a veld known for sangoma gatherings and the presence of burning candles nearby has intensified the search efforts.
Despite challenges, such as the requirement of a warrant to search local huts, the community’s determination has not waned.
“We know it’s frustrating and an emotional roller coaster at times but the search must continue,” McKenzie said.
Proceedings at the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court had not commenced when this article was published.