Kelly and co-accused face sentencing in high-profile Joshlin Smith kidnapping case

IOL News

27-05-2025

The White City Multipurpose Hall in Saldanha, where sentencing for Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith will be handed down this week following their conviction for the kidnapping and human trafficking of six-year-old Joshlin Smith.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers
The highly anticipated sentencing proceedings in the Joshlin Smith matter is set to begin in Saldanha on Tuesday.
Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith will know their fate before the end of this week.
The trio was found guilty on May 2 of kidnapping and human trafficking charges relating to Smith's then-six-year-old daughter, Joshlin, who disappeared on February 19.
The trio, who were detained at Pollsmoor Prison since early May, were transported closer to Saldanha, where the proceedings would take place at the White City Multipurpose Hall.
Smith is being held in Langebaan while her two co-accused are detained at Malmesbury Prison.
This week, the State is expected to present evidence from a human trafficking expert from the US. This will be followed by a victim impact report, which will detail the effect Joshlin's disappearance has had on her family and her community.
It has also been stated that Boeta's defence lawyer, Fanie Harmse, may call his mother to the stand to testify in mitigation of sentencing.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
It remains unclear whether van Rhyn or Smith will be calling any witnesses to the stand or taking the stand themselves.
The court still has to deal with its state witness, former accused Laurentia Lombaard.
Lombaard was initially implicated in the matter before she became a state witness in October last year.
She previously testified that Smith sold Joshlin for R20,000 and claimed she would have received R1,000 as her cut to keep her mouth shut.
While Lombaard was part of the initial group who planned the green-eyed girl's disappearance, it is not clear whether Judge Nathan Erasmus will have her suffer the same fate as the convicted kidnappers.
Cape Argus