The Joshlin Smith trial enters its eighth day today, with more testimony expected as the State builds its case against Kelly Smith and her co-accused.
What to expect from the Joshlin Smith trial on Day 8
Yesterday’s proceedings brought forward crucial witness statements, shedding light on Kelly’s actions before and after Joshlin’s disappearance, her behaviour during the search, and past social service interventions concerning her children.
As the trial resumes, a new witness is set to testify after Siliziwe Mbambo’s cross-examination this morning.
Viewers can watch the trial live below as today’s proceedings unfold.
If you encounter issues with the above stream, you can try the one below:
Recap of Day 7: Key testimonies and new revelations
On Day 7, the court heard from Kelly Zeegers, a key witness who interacted with Kelly Smith before and after Joshlin vanished. She described Kelly’s movements, her requests for money, and her uncharacteristically calm demeanour despite her daughter being missing.
Zeegers stated that Kelly called her multiple times on the night of 19 February, asking for help searching for Joshlin. Kelly claimed she had heard rumours that two men were seen walking with the child toward the bushes, but when she confronted one of them, he denied involvement.
Later that night, Zeegers saw Kelly outside, calling Joshlin’s name while accompanied by a man known as Young Kop.
By the morning of 20 February, Kelly was still asleep when Zeegers contacted her for an update. Frustrated, Zeegers told her to wake up and insisted that Jacquen Appollis, Kelly’s boyfriend, go search a nearby farm.
Later that day, Zeegers took Kelly to the police station, where officers identified Jacquen as the main suspect because he was the last person to have been with Joshlin.
That night, Kelly stayed at Zeegers’ house but refused to sleep alone. Police and activist groups arrived later, questioning Kelly, but she was uncooperative and claimed she felt nauseous. Zeegers, growing frustrated, helped Kelly to the bathroom to vomit before she eventually went to sleep.
Zeegers described Kelly’s lack of visible distress over her missing daughter, which she found unusual. While Zeegers was deeply anxious, unable to eat or sleep, Kelly remained calm and emotionless—until confronted about her behavior.
When asked where she thought Joshlin might be, Kelly insisted she was in Marikana, a township where Kelly previously lived. She also mentioned foreign nationals, suggesting that they might have taken her daughter.
On 6 March 2024, police asked Zeegers to check her home’s security footage from the day Joshlin disappeared. The footage, which covered 07:00 to 14:00 on 19 February, showed only Zeegers and her children.
Kelly Smith was not seen in the footage during that timeframe.
We did a full breakdown of the sheer significance of this timeline lapse in a YouTube video. You can watch it below:
The court also heard from social worker Seliziwe Mbambo, who presented official case records regarding Kelly Smith’s history with social services.
A 2016 case file showed that Kelly’s grandmother had reported her for child neglect, claiming Kelly swore at her child, threatened to stab him, and was involved in drug use. By 2017, Kelly had been kicked out of the house due to her drug problems, and her eldest son was being cared for by other relatives.
Mbambo also detailed Kelly’s attempts to seek help for her drug addiction in 2018. She was admitted to a women’s shelter for abused women and later enrolled in a rehabilitation program, which she completed. However, she chose not to participate in relapse prevention efforts and eventually returned to her old environment.
Following Joshlin’s disappearance, Kelly was offered a safe place at the Siyabonga Shelter, but she refused to go, saying she wanted to continue searching for her daughter. The shelter had strict conditions, including no cellphone use, no leaving without permission, and mandatory drug testing. Kelly was unwilling to comply and formally declined placement.
The social worker also confirmed that Kelly received social grants for Joshlin and her other child, but her youngest daughter did not receive a grant because she had no birth certificate.
By 15 March 2024, a Children’s Court ruling determined that Kelly’s children had been exposed to domestic violence and unstable living conditions. Kelly’s son was placed in foster care, while her youngest daughter was denied placement with her biological father due to his unsuitable living conditions.