Activist demands jail time for key witness in Joshlin Smith case
Image: Armand Hough
Anti-gender-based violence activist June Dolley Major said the woman who turned State witness in the case of missing Saldanha Bay girl Joshlin Smith, should have served time in prison.
Her comments come after Lourentia 'Renz' Lombaard was granted full immunity from prosecution by Western Cape High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus on Wednesday afternoon.
Lombaard was arrested in March 2024 alongside Joshlin's mother, Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn, and she turned State witness.
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
All three were convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking and are serving life sentences.
Judge Erasmus found that Lombaard had provided 'key evidence' and testified 'honestly and frankly' in her Section 204 statement.
But Dolley Major, speaking outside the court, said she believed any crime involving a child warranted some form of punishment.
'Lots of emotions are going on right now,' she said. 'I understand why she's indemnified, guilty after the fact, and not active at all. But as always, my concern is Joshlin.
'My personal opinion is no disrespect to Judge Erasmus in any way whatsoever, he handled it all so well. I feel any crime involving a child should serve some kind of time.'
The defence has indicated it will approach the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein to try to overturn the convictions and sentences.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said they were satisfied with both the convictions and Lombaard's indemnity.
'It's an outcome that we argued for. We believe there's no other court that could come to a different conclusion,' he said.
'We believe the decision to convict them for trafficking in persons for purposes of exploitation, as well as kidnapping, and handing down life sentences, was correct. There was no other suitable sentence.
'We are also happy with the outcome in terms of the Section 204 witness, Ms Lombaard, because we believe she testified frankly and honestly, which is a requirement of the Act. She did not try to take herself out of the crime, but told the court what happened and the role she played.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
14 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.
IOL News
15 hours ago
- IOL News
Witness Throws Fraud Case into Disarray at Palm Ridge Court
Rushil Singh and Nishani Singh were accused of submitting fraudulent bank guarantees, allegedly issued by Stanbic Bank Ghana, to secure more than R150 million in credit facilities from Investec between 2017 and 2022. Image: Supplied The high-stakes fraud trial against businessman Rushil Singh took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when a key prosecution witness delivered testimony that appeared to contradict earlier claims, casting doubt on the foundation of the State's case. Appearing before Judge Venter at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, the witness — who had submitted three affidavits detailing how Singh and his late sister, Nishani Singh, allegedly defrauded Investec Bank — conceded under cross-examination that there may have been no intention to commit fraud. Rushil Singh and Nishani Singh were accused of submitting fraudulent bank guarantees, allegedly issued by Stanbic Bank Ghana, to secure more than R150 million in credit facilities from Investec between 2017 and 2022. The pair were arrested in 2023 and have been in custody ever since. Nishani, who suffered from severe health complications, died on Saturday at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital while awaiting trial. Now, the witness's testimony threatens to upend the State's case entirely. 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 ✕ Affidavits Under Scrutiny During Wednesday's proceedings, the witness confirmed authoring three affidavits submitted to the State — all of which were accepted into the record by Judge Venter. While the affidavits outline how guarantees were submitted and how the bank was allegedly misled, the witness admitted they do not directly prove criminal intent.'These affidavits establish a prima facie case,' he said, 'but they do not show that the accused acted with intent to defraud.' He went further, explaining that the guarantees, which were meant to secure substantial loans, were represented as being backed by cash reserves held in Ghana by the Joint Investment Company (JIC). 'It made logical sense to assume the guarantees were backed by cash,' he told the court. Pressed by the defence on whether Rushil or Nishani Singh knowingly provided false guarantees, the witness replied, 'No.' He acknowledged that many of the email attachments used as evidence in the affidavits were genuine and not forged, a revelation that further weakens the prosecution's claim of fabricated documentation. Defence Seizes Opportunity The defence was quick to highlight inconsistencies in the witness's account, arguing that if the documentation was legitimate and the guarantees were presented in line with standard banking practices, then the case hinges on misunderstanding, not malice. 'This may be a case of reckless financial conduct, but not criminal fraud,' said the witness under questioning. With the State's star witness softening his earlier position, the defence believes the court may soon have little choice but to reconsider the charges against Rushil Singh. Calls for Inquiry Into Sister's Death Meanwhile, the death of Nishani Singh has sparked mounting public pressure for an independent investigation. She had been in visibly poor health during recent court appearances and was reportedly denied adequate medical care while in custody. Her death has raised uncomfortable questions about the treatment of pre-trial detainees in South Africa's prison system.'If this testimony holds, it means Nishani may have died while innocent,' a legal analyst told reporters outside court.
SowetanLIVE
15 hours ago
- SowetanLIVE
State witness in Joshlin Smith case granted prosecutorial immunity
The Western Cape high court on Wednesday granted full indemnity from prosecution to Lourentia 'Renz' Lombaard, the former accused who turned state witness in the Joshlin Smith case. This comes as the convicted trio, Kelly 'Racquel' Smith, Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, were denied leave to appeal their sentences and convictions, with the judge saying he doesn't believe any other court would come to a different conclusion. Judge Nathan Charles Erasmus ruled that Lombaard could not be prosecuted for the kidnapping of the six-year-old girl, noting that while she was aware of the arrangements and kept quiet, she played no role in the actual abduction. 'You may not be prosecuted for this offence,' Erasmus said. The decision was made after considering her testimony and the legal provisions under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act. State prosecutor Zelda Swanepoel told the court that Lombaard had made 'huge personal sacrifices' by leaving her home and children to enter witness protection and face intense cross-examination. 'The court must understand the nerve, a witness box is not an easy place to be in. The cross-examination was intense,' Swanepoel said. Lombaard's evidence was key in revealing that Joshlin had been sold to a sangoma for R20,000, a revelation that helped secure the convictions. Advocate Eben van Tonder, acting for Lombaard, said she had 'much to lose' and that this in itself incentivised her to be truthful. Defence lawyers for the three convicts continued to challenge the fairness of the trial, accusing the state of procedural violations, unlawful detention and withholding of information. Advocate Nobahle Mkabayi, representing Van Rhyn, claimed her client's confession was extracted under duress and that they had appeared in court 'bare-handed and clueless'. Advocate Fanie Harmse, for Appollis, argued that another suspect, Phumza 'Maka Lima' Sigaqa, was never charged despite evidence suggesting Joshlin may have been taken to her home. He also pointed out that Appollis had injuries when arrested, saying that his injuries cannot be wished away. The hearing was marked by tense exchanges between the judge and the defence, with Mkabayi accusing Erasmus of creating a hostile environment that denied her client the right to be heard. Erasmus dismissed the claims, saying both sides had been given equal opportunity to present their cases. TimesLIVE
