logo
Court to hear Joshlin Smith's traffickers' appeal against their convictions, sentences

Court to hear Joshlin Smith's traffickers' appeal against their convictions, sentences

Eyewitness News19 hours ago
CAPE TOWN - Joshlin Smith's traffickers believe the court has erred in sentencing them to life behind bars.
At the end of May, the missing child's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, were handed life sentences for human trafficking and ten years for kidnapping.
Joshlin was six years old when she disappeared from her Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024.
Attorneys for Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, filed notices to appeal the high court's ruling and sentences, barely a week after sentencing was handed down in May this year.
Tuesday and Wednesday have been set aside for the court to hear the appeals.
Judge Nathan Erasmus is also expected to decide the fate of former-accused-turned State witness, Lourentia Lombaard.
Lombaard told the court that Smith sold her daughter to a sangoma for R20,000.
Meanwhile, the police's work is not yet done as their investigation and search for little Joshlin, continue.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Benoni man accused of raping and impregnating daughter denied bail
Benoni man accused of raping and impregnating daughter denied bail

TimesLIVE

time8 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Benoni man accused of raping and impregnating daughter denied bail

The Tsakani magistrate's court on Tuesday denied bail to a 39-year-old man from Lindelani, Benoni, who is accused of raping and impregnating his daughter, who was 15, in 2022. The man had applied for bail on Friday. 'The alleged abuse began in March 2022 when the victim lived with her parents and younger brother in Tsakani,' National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said. On the day of the first incident, the mother was at church and left her daughter with her father and brother. The father allegedly called the victim into the house and sent her brother to buy chips. 'When the victim got inside the house she found the father in her room. The father allegedly locked the door behind her, undressed both himself and the victim, raped her, and left her in her room.' Upon the mother's return, she found the victim crying on her bed. 'She told her mother what had happened but the mother did not believe her.' The abuse allegedly continued when the mother was not around and the child stopped telling her mother as she still did not believe the victim. The child became pregnant the same year. The mother brought a concoction and told the child to drink it in an attempt to abort her baby, which failed. The parents then moved the victim to Limpopo to live with her paternal grandmother, where she gave birth to a boy in December 2022. 'After turning 18, the victim opened a case in Limpopo on July 7 2025, resulting in the father's arrest on July 19 2025.' In court, the father sought R1,000 bail, citing his role as the primary caregiver for his three children aged one, 12, and 18 since his unemployed wife could not support them. Prosecutor Sindi Leonora Sejake called investigating officer Sgt Tebogo Lephoto, who opposed the accused's release on bail because the state had a strong case. Lephoto said DNA evidence revealed that the accused was the father of the victim's three-year-old child. 'The investigating officer testified that the accused was likely to interfere with witnesses since he went to Limpopo from Gauteng in attempt to confront the child after he realised that the child had opened a case against him and was speaking about the matter on social media.' Magistrate Tebogo Lekgau denied bail, noting the severity of the charge and the likelihood of a life sentence if convicted. She emphasised the strong state case, the accused's potential to evade trial and the community outcry that prompted the family's relocation. 'Moreover, the magistrate said, the vulnerable child was failed by her father as he repeatedly raped her, while her mother also failed to protect her by refusing to believe her.' The case was postponed to August 28.

Woman attempts suicide as loan shark increases interest to 400%
Woman attempts suicide as loan shark increases interest to 400%

The South African

time8 hours ago

  • The South African

Woman attempts suicide as loan shark increases interest to 400%

A woman attempted suicide in KwaZulu-Natal, Phoenix on Monday, 11 August 2025, after a loan shark unexpectedly increased the interest rate. Initially, the interest rate was 50%; however, the loan shark increased it to 400%. They demanded R100 000 in payback for a R20 000 loan. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the woman's family mentioned that the loan shark changed the interest rate to 400% after seeing that the debt was almost settled. After the woman resisted paying the high interest, the loan shark threatened to send a group of men to repossess her car if the money was not paid. Feeling scared, the woman borrowed smaller amounts of money to pay the loan shark as he continued making demands. The woman called family members and informed them that she intended to jump off a bridge because she had become overwhelmed with debt. She then requested her family to take care of her child. RUSA Spokesperson Prem Balram said that they informed the family about the next steps they need to take to get help for the woman. A suspect was arrested in Verulam, KZN on Tuesday, 12 August 2025, after attacking a family with a knife. The 36-year-old male suspect entered a property on Aslaam Road in Riyadh with intentions to rob the residence. Two family members were having tea in their yard when they suddenly noticed the suspect approaching them. 'The 78-year-old woman and her male domestic worker fled into the house, followed by the suspect. The robber produced a knife and attempted to steal the metal payer statue, but was confronted by a 54-year-old male who exited the bedroom. He stabbed the victim on his hand and fled empty-handed,' said RUSA. The suspect was later caught on Russom Street. 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.

Joshlin Smith trial: Lourencia Lombaard, 2 co-accused apply for leave to appeal conviction, sentences
Joshlin Smith trial: Lourencia Lombaard, 2 co-accused apply for leave to appeal conviction, sentences

Eyewitness News

time9 hours ago

  • Eyewitness News

Joshlin Smith trial: Lourencia Lombaard, 2 co-accused apply for leave to appeal conviction, sentences

CAPE TOWN – A mother and two others convicted of selling her daughter are applying for leave to appeal their convictions and sentences. Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and his friend Steveno van Rhyn were handed life sentences for human trafficking in May. This is after the court accepted the State's version, that then six-year-old Joshlin Smith was sold to a sangoma in Saldanha Bay in February last year. ALSO READ: Joshlin Smith: Former accused-turned-State witness Lourencia Lombaard returned to the dock The girl is still missing. The matter was adjourned for the day and continues in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday. Meanwhile, former accused-turned-State witness, Lourencia Lombaard, was also in court to hear the argument around whether she should be granted indemnity. Lombaard had testified to witnessing Smith sell the child for R20,000 in February 2024. The National Prosecuting Authority's Eric Ntabazalila explained: 'We can confirm that arguments began this morning in the application for leave to appeal involving the accused in the Joshlin Smith matter, as well as the Section 204 witness issue involving Ms Lourencia Lombaard. The case has been postponed to tomorrow morning [Wednesday] and judgement is expected to be delivered tomorrow morning on both matters."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store