What's next for key witness Laurentia Lombaard?
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
As the search for missing Joshlin Smith continues, former accused turned state witness, Laurentia Lombaard, is expected to know her fate this week in the Western Cape High Court.
Lombaard was arrested and charged alongside Kelly Smith for the kidnapping of Joshlin Smith.
The six-year-old Saldanha girl disappeared on February 19, 2024.
Kelly's boyfriend, Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, and Steveno 'Steffie' van Rhyn are currently serving life sentences for the crime.
However, following her arrest Lombaard opted to become a Section 204 witness for the State, providing key evidence that secured the convictions of the trio.
But the question remains: Will Lombaard be exempt from justice?
Joshlin Smith has been missing since February 19, 2024.
Image: SAPS
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
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
On Tuesday morning, the issue of Lombaard's indemnity will be argued by legal counsel before Judge Nathan Erasmus.
Lombaard's testimony blew the case right open and sent shockwaves through the courtroom when she revealed that Joshlin had been sold for R20,000.
While her testimony was filled with some holes and questionable actions, it helped the State secure both the conviction and sentence in this landmark case.
During the trial, the court heard Kelly had a violent streak, Lombaard also confirmed the group's excessive drug use - mandrax and methamphetamine (tik).
Lombaard testified how Kelly received a call and spoke English during it, thereafter she told Boeta how someone 'wanted Joshlin', but he was not willing to listen at the time.
Jacquen Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Kelly Smith were sentenced in May.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
The court further heard that on Sunday, February 18, 2024, Kelly took Joshlin and went to the roadway and met with a woman who alighted from a white VW Polo, this woman, she assumed to be a sangoma who had white spots in her face and was dressed in a green blouse, skirt and doek (headscarf).
Lombaard stated she watched the scenario play out from behind the boulders in Middelpos. Kelly was handed something by the woman, which she stuck into the front of her pants.
Lombaard told the court she later overheard a conversation between Kelly and Boeta as she stood behind the shack they lived in.
Kelly told Boeta the 'sangoma' had given her R20,000. She later confirmed to Lombaard that she sold Joshlin for R20,000 because she was struggling and needed the money.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Kelly Smith and accomplices denied leave to appeal sentence in Joshlin Smith kidnapping case
The Western Cape High Court on Wednesday dismissed the application for leave to appeal brought by all three people in the case of the missing Joshlin Smith. Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn were sentenced on May 29, and are currently serving life plus 10 years for trafficking in persons and kidnapping. Judge Nathan Erasmus said that a sentence of life imprisonment, especially in human trafficking of a child, even when a person has shown no remorse, is inappropriate to impose a lighter sentence or allow an appeal on the sentence. "Turning to the merits and the attack on that, this court made factual findings and drew inferences from circumstantial evidence, and had the benefit of observing witnesses on which I made credibility findings. Consequently, the application for leave to appeal, insofar as Mr Appollis on the conviction is refused. Insofar as it relates to Mr Van Rhyn and Ms Smith, it is similarly refused," he said. Earlier, Erasmus granted indemnity to Section 204 witness Laurentia Lombaard. Lombaard was the State's star witness in the trial over the disappearance of the green-eyed girl from Middelpos, Saldanha.
TimesLIVE
8 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Former rugby player fined for failing to submit tax returns
The Paarl magistrate's court has fined former Springbok rugby player Schalk Burger Sr and his company Welbedacht Wines for failing to submit VAT, pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) and income tax returns. The court fined the company R6,000 on each count of failing to submit a VAT201 return for February 2023 and a monthly employer declaration return for March 2023. Burger, 69, was convicted on 14 counts, which included failure to submit a VAT201 return for February 2023, a monthly employer declaration (EMP201) return for March2023 and IT12 income tax returns for the period 2011 to 2022. He was fined R6,000 or 12 months imprisonment on each count, of which R2,000 or four months imprisonment was suspended for five years. 'This amounts to a payable fine of R56,000, or 112 months imprisonment and a further R28,000 or 56 months imprisonment suspended for five years on specific conditions,' National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said. Burger successfully requested the court to grant him a deferred fine and was ordered to pay the R56,000 in instalments of R6,000 per month and a final payment of R8,000. The accused entered into a plea and sentence agreement with the state. The court confirmed the agreement and convicted and sentenced him accordingly. According to the agreement, Burger admitted that Welbedacht Wines was registered for VAT and PAYE at the Paarl office of the South African Revenue Services. Burger failed to submit the returns on behalf of the company. In addition, Burger, in his personal capacity, was registered for income tax at the Paarl Sars office . 'Following his successful registration for e-filing in 2011, he failed to submit his IT12 income tax returns for the tax years of 2011 to 2022. This was despite Sars' best efforts to encourage all taxpayers to submit their income tax returns.' It was only after the institution of a prosecution and his being summoned to appear in court that he submitted all outstanding returns relating to himself and his company, and both are currently tax compliant. 'The accused's son, Christiaan Francois Burger, was on July 21 also convicted and sentenced on 12 counts of failing to submit his IT12 personal income tax returns for the 2011 to 2022 period.' The 40-year-old was sentenced to a fine of R48,000 or 96 months imprisonment, and a further R24,000 or 48 months imprisonment, suspended for five years on conditions. The NPA said the sentence sent a strong message of deterrence. 'With the filing season for income tax currently under way, this is a clear message that failure by persons and juristic persons to file their Income Tax returns will not be tolerated. It is a serious offence that impacts negatively on the fiscus,' he said.
IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
Former Springbok rugby legend Schalk Burger Snr and wine farm sentenced for tax return failures
Former Springbok rugby player, Schalk Willem Petrus Burger has been sentenced for tax evasion. A former Springbok rugby player, Schalk Willem Petrus Burger, and his wine farm, Welbedacht Wines (Pty) Ltd, have been convicted and sentenced after failure to submit Value Added Tax, Pay as You Earn and Income Tax Returns. Burger, 69, was sentenced by the Paarl Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said he was fined R6,000 or 12 months' imprisonment on each count, and R2,000 or four months' imprisonment was suspended for five years. "This amounts to a payable fine of R56,000, or 112 months' imprisonment, and a further R28,000 or 56 months' imprisonment suspended for five years on specific conditions. He successfully requested the court to grant him a deferred fine and was ordered to pay the R56,000 in instalments of R6,000 per month and a final payment of R8,000," Ntabazalila.
