Mother Faces Trial Over Alleged Kidnapping of Daughter in South Africa

Kelly Smith, along with her accomplices, faces charges connected to her daughter's unresolved case, which continues to grip the nation.

The mother of a six-year-old girl who has been missing for over a year is currently on trial in South Africa, accused of orchestrating her daughter’s abduction. Kelly Smith is standing trial alongside her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and friend Steveno van Rhyn, all of whom were arrested after young Joshlin vanished from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, in February last year.

The incident has sent shockwaves through South Africa, where a large-scale search for Joshlin was initiated but has so far yielded no results. Despite efforts from the community and a reward offered by Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie for her safe return, Joshlin remains unaccounted for. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to serious charges including human trafficking and kidnapping.

Initially, Ms. Smith claimed that her daughter had gone missing while in the care of Mr. Appollis. However, prosecutors later contended that she was involved in the girl’s disappearance by "selling, delivering or exchanging" Joshlin and deceiving authorities about her status.

As the investigation unfolded, attention shifted towards Ms. Smith after Lorentia Lombaard, a former co-accused, became a state witness, casting further suspicion on the mother’s involvement. The trial is set to last from March 3 to March 28 at a multi-purpose center in Saldanha, which has been designated as a high court for this case to facilitate public access. The courtroom’s selection aims to ensure the local community can engage with the trial proceedings during this critical time.