Joslin Smith court case: What happened to state witness?
Western Cape High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus has imposed a life sentence on convicted traffickers of Joslin Smith, including her mother, Kelly Smith. But what about the state witness, Lourentia Lombaard?
The woman – a former accused who turned State 204 witness – has stated under oath that Kelly allegedly sold her daughter to a sangoma for R20 000.
Kelly, her boyfriend Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis, and pal Steveno van Rhyn received concurrent sentences for trafficking and kidnapping.
During his sentencing hearing, Western Cape High Court Judge Erasmus revealed that the trafficking trial's fourth former accused, turned state witness, Lourentia Lombaard, would hear her fate in another court date.
Lombaard – a State 204 witness – previously stated under oath that Joslin's mother, Kelly Smith, allegedly sold her to a sangoma for R20 000.
Charges were withdrawn against Lombaard, who has been granted provisional indemnity from criminal prosecution.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.
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 National Prosecuting Authority offered Lourentia Lombaard witness protection in exchange for her testimony against Kelly Smith, Boeta Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn.
However, if the court finds that the witness has not testified truthfully, they may 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
31 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Benoni man handed life imprisonment for raping his children
The Benoni Regional Court recently sentenced a father of three children, aged between three and 13, to life imprisonment. Benoni City Times reports that the conviction comes during Child Protection Week, observed from May 29 to June 5. It raises awareness about child abuse and the importance of reporting incidents. The Benoni father was found guilty and sentenced for rape, sexual assault, compelling or causing a child to witness an act of self-masturbation and exposure or display of genital organs. The harrowing ordeal came to light on August 4, 2021, when the mother of the victims reported a rape case at Benoni SAPS. Her suspicions were raised after she heard one of her children screaming: 'Daddy, you are hurting me.' Upon questioning the child, the child disclosed the abuse, which also led to the revelation that her siblings had also been victims. According to SAPS Ekurhuleni District Communication Officer Captain Nelda Sekgobela, the father would touch or rub the children's private parts and insert his finger in their private parts. The case was assigned to Detective Captain Anrika Bell of the Benoni Family Violence, Child Protection Services and Sexual Offences Unit, who diligently investigated the case and secured the conviction. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
31 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Arms deal: Thales and Zuma acquittal applications dismissed
The Pietermaritzburg High Court has dismissed the application for acquittal by former president Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales in the decades-long arms deal corruption case. The Witness reports that Judge Nkosinathi Chili also ruled that the court doesn't have authority to withdraw charges, adding that 'it would be incompetent for the court to grant the relief (permanent stay of prosecution) sought'. He said the state has the exclusive right to stop prosecution. Chili reserved his decision in April after hearing arguments from both parties. Zuma and Thales were seeking a permanent stay of prosecution, claiming that unreasonable delays had prejudiced their right to a fair trial. Thales argued that the deaths of two key witnesses — former company directors Pierre Moynot and Alain Thétard — had crippled its defence. Both men were central to the events surrounding the allegations and were the only Thales directors based in South Africa at the time of the deal. According to court papers, Thales became aware in late 2021 that Moynot had died on January 18, 2021, and that Thétard had died in Germany on September 7, 2022 — although confirmation was only received in 2024. Zuma joined Thales' application, arguing that the state's case against him is 'symbiotically conjoined' with that of Thales. His lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, said the deaths of Moynot and Thétard also weaken Zuma's ability to challenge the evidence against him — particularly in relation to the controversial 'encrypted fax' at the heart of the allegations. In his ruling, Chili said he was not persuaded that Thales and Zuma would suffer irreparable prejudice or that their rights to a fair trial would be compromised if the matter proceeds. Mpofu said it was likely that Zuma would file an application for leave to appeal the ruling, which must be done by June 24. Zuma is accused of accepting bribes from Thales during his tenure as deputy president in the late 1990s. These payments were allegedly facilitated by his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, who was convicted of corruption in 2005. Chili agreed with National Prosecuting Authority Advocate Andrew Breitenbach, that the full extent of any potential prejudice could only be assessed once evidence is led at trial. The judge had previously dismissed Zuma's bid to remove lead prosecutor Advocate Billy Downer, as well as a subsequent application for leave to appeal that decision. Mpofu said today that Zuma has since filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Appeal to challenge Judge Chili's ruling. The matter has been adjourned to December 4. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
WhatsApp group linked to July 2021 unrest lands four in court
The Hawks confirmed that more arrests are imminent. The Roodepoort Magistrates Court has granted R1 500 bail each to four suspects who appeared for incitement to commit public violence in connection with the July 2021 unrest. Bekuyise Cebekhulu, 58, from KwaZulu-Natal; Jimmy Sibeko, 44; Busisiwe Skhosana, 52; and Bogadi Mahisa, 49, from Gauteng, made their first appearance before the court on Tuesday morning. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) authorised arrest warrants for the suspects, who then handed themselves over through their legal representatives. Bail for suspected instigators of July 2021 unrest The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said they arrested the four suspects in connection with the unrest that took place in July 2021. The unrest in 2021 resulted in more than 350 people losing their lives and cost R50 billion in damages. The protests, violence, and looting erupted across the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng provinces following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma. ALSO READ: Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla wants terrorism charges dropped as trial dates set Hawks' spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the suspects, who were allegedly supporters of Zuma, participated in a WhatsApp group named ZUMA REAL ACTIVIST 100% and other chat groups on the platform. 'They'd post inciting messages which it is believed to have led to the public violence as well as the looting of retail stores in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal at the time,' Mogale said. The Hawks' Serious Organised Crime, Crimes Against the State (CATS) in Gauteng carried out extensive investigations. Accused of fuelling the unrest through WhatsApp messages Upon completion of the investigations, the DPP decided to prosecute those who posted messages which led to the unrest. The Roodepoort Magistrates Court granted Cebekhulu, Sibeko, Skhosana and Mahisa bail of R1 500 each. The suspects are expected to appear in court again on 2 July. Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, welcomed the arrests and commended the investigating team. ALSO READ: Will your insurance cover loss and damage due to civil unrest? 'DPCI shall continue to secure in court the attendance of anyone against whom sufficient evidence of committing a national priority offence is obtained, without fear, favour or prejudice,' Maj Gen Kadwa said. The Hawks confirmed that more arrests are imminent. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla charged with terrorism The former president's daughter and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is also a suspect. She appeared at the Durban Magistrate's Court in January. In January last year, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) found there was no discernible connection between Zuma's incarceration and the violent unrest that occurred in July 2021. The SAHRC concluded that the timing of the events of the July unrest 'coincided' with Zuma's jailing and, therefore, 'it could not find evidence to link the two events'. NOW READ: July unrest: Ex-security guard sentenced to 20 years in jail for killing Verulam father
