In the ongoing case of the disappearance of Joshlin Smith, one of the four individuals charged in connection with the incident, Lorentia “Renz” Lombaard, has withdrawn her bail application.
The 32-year-old resident of Middelpos is facing charges of human trafficking and kidnapping, along with three co-accused: Joshlin’s mother, Raquel “Kelly” Smith, Kelly’s boyfriend, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and a close friend of the couple, Steveno van Rhyn.
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Renz’s Confession and Promise to Speak the Truth
During Renz’s first court appearance on March 18th, state prosecutor Jacques van Zyl revealed that she had made a confession before her arrest. However, no further details about the confession were provided. As Renz left the court, she was confronted by a group of Middelpos residents who implored her to “speak the truth.” In response, Renz simply replied, “I will.”
What We Know About the Joshlin Smith Case So Far
Today marks 35 days since Joshlin Smith, a grade 1 pupil at Diazville Primary School, went missing from the Middelpos informal settlement on February 19th.
According to Kelly Smith, Joshlin’s mother, the little girl was feeling unwell that day, so Kelly decided to leave her in the care of her boyfriend at their shack while she went off to work as a domestic worker.
When Kelly returned home that evening, Joshlin was nowhere to be found. Appollis, Kelly’s boyfriend, claimed that he lost track of Joshlin’s whereabouts after she went outside to play.
Mother Kelly Allegedly Behind Sale of Daughter
Renz Lombaard is said to be a friend and neighbour of Kelly, who is reportedly pregnant again while behind bars in Pollsmoor Prison. Senior advocate Aradhana Heeramun, who appeared for the state when Kelly, Appollis, and Van Rhyn were charged on March 7th, alleged that the two men confessed after a gruelling 36-hour interrogation at Saldanha Police Station.
They reportedly confessed that Kelly instructed them to sell Joshlin to another Middelpos man for R20,000 for muti.
On March 13th, the three accused withdrew their bail applications, while the charges against alleged sangoma Phumza Sigaqa were dropped due to a lack of evidence. The trio is scheduled to appear again in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on May 13th.
Not long after Joshlin went missing, Van Rhyn was interviewed by Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie prior to his arrest.
In the interview, Van Rhyn claimed that he had smoked mandrax with Appollis and a woman, whom he identified as Renz, before Kelly returned from work. He stated that Renz asked Joshlin to check on her other child in another hokkie (shack), and both Renz and Joshlin were never seen again.
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Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie has stated that “police have not ruled out the possibility of more suspects being arrested as the investigation progresses.”
The search for Joshlin is still ongoing, with a reward of R250,000 offered for any information that could assist the police in locating her. Anyone with information on her whereabouts can anonymously contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.
