Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, the mother of missing Joshlin Smith, opted to abandon her right to bail, the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.
Joshlin Smith latest: Kelly Smith abandons bail
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Tensions were palpable at the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court, where Kelly, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Phumza Sigaqa appeared on kidnapping and human trafficking charges.
As expected, court proceedings were brief, as Kelly, Jacquen and Steveno informed the court of their collective decision to abandon bail as a safety precaution.
In an interesting development, state prosecutors dropped the charges against the fourth accused, Phumza Sigaqa.
The sangoma was central to ongoing speculation about Joshlin Smith being a victim of a muti ritual. With no clear statement from the National Prosecuting Authority, it remains unknown on what basis these charges were dropped.
Kelly Smith, Jacquen and Steveno, on the contrary, will remain in police custody until their next court appearance.
The state was granted a postponement until 13 May 2024, for further evidence collecting.
Careful not to reveal much about the contents of the investigation, state prosecutors informed the court that so far, authorities were hot on the heels of encouraging leads about the whereabouts of Joshlin Smith, who was last seen alive on Monday, 19 February 2024.
The court also heard that forensic reports on several pieces of evidence collected thus far were gradually trickling in, and other persons of interest were being interviewed to build a solid case against the accused.
Watch: Protesters clash with police outside Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court
Outside the courthouse, the police found themselves in a standoff with protesters, deploying stun grenades in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
This action led to a fiery exchange, with protesters retaliating by hurling stones at law enforcement officers. The court premises were heavily fortified, encircled with barbed wire, in anticipation of the unrest.
The confrontation intensified when the Patriotic Alliance leader, known as ‘Oom Biza,’ was forcibly prevented from entering the courthouse without the necessary media accreditation.
His live-streamed altercation with the police, capturing the intense moment he was manhandled, sparked outrage among his supporters and fueled the protests.