Will Joslin Smith state witness get indemnity or face JAIL?
The state witness in the Joslin Smith trafficking trial, Laurentia Lombaard, is awaiting her fate of indemnity or a prison sentence in a special hearing under the Western Cape High Court.
The woman – a former accused who turned State 204 witness – has previously stated under oath that the missing girl's mother, Kelly Smith, allegedly sold her daughter to a sangoma for R20 000.
Last week, Kelly, her boyfriend Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis, and pal Steveno van Rhyn were sentenced to life in prison for trafficking and kidnapping. The trio has 14 days to apply for leave to appeal the sentence.
Joslin went missing from her home in Saldanha Bay on 19 February 2024. She has not been found.
Speaking to the SABC, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) prosecutor Zelda Swanepoel revealed Western Cape High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus would hear evidence and arguments from both the prosecution and the defense pertaining to state witness, Laurentia Lombaard.
He would impose her sentence in a separate hearing.
Swanepoel said: 'We will be called upon to argue and indicate why we say she should or should not be granted indemnity.
'Our argument is that she should be granted indemnity.' State witness Lourentia Lombaard testified that Kelly Smith sold her daughter Joslin to a sangoma. Will she be granted indemnity for her testimony?
Images via YouTube screenshot: SABC News.
Laurentia Lombaard – a State 204 witness – previously stated under oath that Joslin Smith's mother, Kelly Smith, allegedly sold her to a sangoma for R20 000.
Lombaard also claimed in her testimony that Kelly had offered her R1 000 in 'hush money'. She added that she had not received the money, even after confronting Kelly about it.
Late last year, charges were withdrawn against Lombaard, who was granted provisional indemnity from criminal prosecution. However, her credibility was questioned when she admitted to lying to police in a recorded statement after Joslin Smith's disappearance.
Her version of events from her March 2024 statement differs from her confession to police in October, when she agreed to turn state witness.
In court, she admitted to being under the influence of drugs when making the initial statement.
According to the Criminal Procedure Act, a Section 204 witness can receive indemnity from criminal charges, provided that their testimony and evidence help incriminate the accused.
In the case of Joslin Smith, the NPA offered Lombaard witness protection in exchange for her testimony against Kelly Smith, Boeta Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn, who have since been convicted and sentenced.
If the court does find that Lombaard did not testify truthfully, she could face prosecution for perjury and related charges.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Bribe-taking NC police officer sentenced to six years
Ex-constable Johannes Shuping was sentenced to six years for soliciting bribes to tamper with a police docket. The Kuruman Regional Court in Northern Cape has sentenced a former police officer to six years' imprisonment for soliciting R10 000 to make a court docket disappear. Ex-constable Johannes Shuping was sentenced after the court convicted him on two counts of corruption from an incident that dates back to 2018. Shuping, then a detective at Kathu police station, re-arrested the complainant, Buti Moepadira, despite his case already being before the court. Former Saps officer jailed for corruption After Shuping arrested Moepadira, the accused offered to 'make the docket disappear' in exchange for R11 000. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the complainant was detained at the Kathu police station due to lack of accommodation in Kuruman. ALSO READ: Police sergeant abuses power, gets 20 years for raping victim inside police station While in detention, Shuping allowed Moepadira to use his cellphone to arrange the payment. 'A R6 000 cash payment was delivered to the accused by the complainant's brother. Shuping continued to demand the outstanding R5 000, prompting Moepadira to report the matter to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks),' Senokoatsane said. In response, the investigating officer launched a sting operation using marked banknotes, as permitted by Section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act. Caught in Hawks sting after demanding R11k bribe During the operation, Moepadira's brother handed over the remaining R4 000 to the accused. Although the former officer fled the scene, police arrested him a week later at his workplace. 'At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of marked R200 notes, which matched the serial numbers recorded during the operation,' Senokoatsane said. ALSO READ: Bodies of three missing constables identified by families In aggravation of the sentence, Prosecutor Kagontle Redemption Barnett argued that Shuping had grossly abused his position of authority and violated the public trust. As a law enforcement official, he had a duty to uphold the law, but he chose to violate both the Constitution and his oath. A severe punishment will deter similar misconduct and help restore public confidence in the criminal justice system, Barnett emphasised. Six year direct imprisonment The Kuruman Regional Court agreed and sentenced Shuping to six years' direct imprisonment on each count. The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective six-year prison term. The NPA welcomed the conviction and sentence. ALSO READ: Drunken argument over being called 'inkwenkwe' ends in cop getting 15 years for murder 'This outcome reaffirms that no one is above the law and underscores the importance of protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system by holding those who abuse their power accountable,' Senokoatsane said.
TimesLIVE
an hour ago
- TimesLIVE
Former constable sentenced to six years for corruption
The Kuruman regional court in the Northern Cape on Friday sentenced former police constable Johannes Shuping to six years' imprisonment after convicting him of corruption. The conviction on two counts of corruption involved R10,000 that Shuping solicited from a member of the public. 'The charges relate to a 2018 incident in which Shuping, then a detective at Kathu police station, rearrested the complainant, Buti Moepadira, despite the case already being before the court,' National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said. After his arrest, Shuping offered to 'make the docket disappear' in exchange for a payment of R11,000. 'Moepadira, who was detained at Kathu police station due to a lack of accommodation in Kuruman, was allowed by Shuping to use his cellphone to arrange the payment. A R6,000 cash payment was delivered to the accused by the complainant's brother.' Shuping continued to demand the outstanding R5,000, prompting Moepadira to report the matter to the Hawks. 'A sting operation was then conducted using marked banknotes provided by the investigating officer. During the operation, the complainant's brother handed over the remaining R4,000 to the accused. Shuping fled the scene but was arrested a week later at his workplace.' At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of marked R200 notes, which matched the serial numbers recorded during the operation. Prosecutor Kagontle Redemption Barnett took over the case after the original prosecutor was appointed to the bench. In aggravation of sentence, she argued that Shuping had grossly abused his position of authority and violated public trust. As a law enforcement officer, he was duty-bound to uphold the law, but instead chose to betray his oath and the constitution. Barnett emphasised that a strong sentence would deter similar conduct and reinforce public confidence in the criminal justice system. The court concurred and sentenced Shuping to six years' imprisonment on each count, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently. 'The NPA welcomes the conviction and sentence. This outcome reaffirms that no one is above the law and underscores the importance of protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system by holding those who abuse their power accountable,' Senokoatsane said.
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: K-word teacher loses labour case
Here's your daily news update for Friday, 6 June 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. In the news today, a teacher in the Northern Cape has failed in his attempt to return to work after being dismissed for using a racial slur against two black pupils. Meanwhile, the future of 49 South Africans who have taken up refugee status in the United States is uncertain, as developments in the White House point towards Donald Trump being disillusioned over the white genocide claims. Furthermore, National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi claims the National Prosecuting Authority has been infiltrated by those against the rule of law. Weather tomorrow: 7 June 2025 Weather conditions across South Africa will include frost in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, rain in the Western Cape, and isolated showers and wind in the Free State and Northern Cape. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. 'Using k-word is illegal': Northern Cape teacher fired for racist outburst loses reinstatement battle A teacher in the Northern Cape has failed in his attempt to return to work after being dismissed for using a racial slur against two black pupils. Gerhard Louw took the Northern Cape department of education to the Education Labour Relations Council, arguing that his dismissal was unfair. Picture: iStock At the time, Louw was employed at Technical High School Kimberley, where he taught technology and automotive subjects. He was dismissed in November last year after being found guilty at a disciplinary hearing of calling two African pupils the k-word. CONTINUE READING: 'Using k-word is illegal': Northern Cape teacher fired for racist outburst loses reinstatement battle Trump-Musk breakup: Will 49 'refugees' return to South Africa? The future of 49 South Africans who have taken up refugee status in the United States is uncertain, as developments in the White House point towards Donald Trump being disillusioned over the white genocide claims he has made about South Africa. On Thursday, a public spat broke out between Trump and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk. The two figures even made serious threats against each other on social media. The first group of Afrikaners from South Africa to arrive for resettlement in the US. Picture: Saul Loeb / AFP International relations expert Anthoni van Nieuwkerk told The Citizen the 49 refugees were in a precarious situation with the uncertainty of what Trump would do next. 'They will be left with no home and they might even want to return home, because if the appetite for accommodating Afrikaners goes away and it loses its importance, then those people will be left stranded. CONTINUE READING: Trump-Musk breakup: Will 49 'refugees' return to South Africa? WATCH: NPA 'infiltrated by those against the rule of law' – Batohi National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi claims the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been infiltrated by those against the rule of law. The NPA has recently come under fire for its handling of high-profile cases, including that of former Free State premier Ace Magashule's personal assistant and corruption co-accused, Moroadi Cholota, who was allowed to walk free. National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi. Picture: Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein ruled that it does not have jurisdiction to try Cholota. The NPA has continued to stumble through a series of high-profile legal bungles, including the long-running Timothy Omotoso sex trafficking trial that has dragged on for years, and the Shepherd Bushiri extradition matter. CONTINUE READING: WATCH: NPA 'infiltrated by those against the rule of law' – Batohi Mpumalanga teen girl sends police on a hunt for her rapist, but she lied On Wednesday, Mpumalanga police were sent on a manhunt for two men who were driving a black VW Polo from Dullstroom to Lydenburg on Sunday on allegations of rape. However, this turned out to be a smokescreen. According to Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, a 16-year-old girl reported to police that she was hitchhiking on Sunday and got raped after being given a lift by strangers. Picture: iStock A case docket was opened and assigned to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for investigation. However, there was no rape case to investigate and consequently, no suspects to arrest because this was a fabricated story. Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said on Friday that the 16-year-old girl had been charged with perjury after investigations revealed that she fabricated the entire story. CONTINUE READING: Mpumalanga teen girl sends police on a hunt for her rapist, but she lied Pick n Pay CEO receives the highest salary in retail. Here's how much others get At the top of the corporate ladder, the CEO stands as the face of pressure and power, a single person trusted with steering a company through stormy seas of inflation, consumer hesitancy and relentless competition. Those at the helm of retail companies are paid handsomely due to several factors, including qualifications, experience and responsibilities. These are the people whose vision keeps customers walking through the doors despite the crushing cost of living. Picture: Supplied The lowest-paid CEO in grocery retail is Marek Masojada, CEO of Boxer, with R5.6 million, while the highest-paid is Sean Summers, CEO of Pick n Pay, with R24.9 million. CONTINUE READING: Pick n Pay CEO receives the highest salary in retail. Here's how much others get Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Top 10 stories of the day: Kids hurt in jumping castle accident | Will SA run out of beef and chicken? | Rassie names nine new Boks
