Latest news with #VanRhyn
The Herald
29-05-2025
- General
- The Herald
Kelly Smith sentenced to life in prison for trafficking her daughter Joshlin
The three were sentenced to 10 years on the kidnapping charge, to run concurrently with the life sentences, and their names will be entered into the n ational child protection register. Addressing the three directly, the judge said Appollis had fed Joshlin, sold her and 'you sit there and you say nothing, b etraying the trust she must have placed in you, Mr Appollis, as her parents, and you Miss Smith as the one that gave birth to her. And you Mr Van Rhyn, being that good friend and the father of a small child'. TimesLIVE
The South African
27-05-2025
- The South African
Social worker labels Steveno van Rhyn a ‘menace to society'
A social worker described Steveno Van Rhyn as a 'menace to society.' He warned that even if Van Rhyn had been acquitted, he would have inevitably committed serious crimes again. During the live court proceedings, a social worker has strongly condemned Steveno van Rhyn in the wake of his conviction in the kidnapping and trafficking of six-year-old Joshlin Smith Errol Peterson, a social worker, pointed to Van Rhyn's history and behaviour as clear signs of a dangerous individual prone to repeat offending. According to Peterson, such offenders pose ongoing risks to vulnerable communities and require a firm response from the justice system. The accused planned the crime and targeted Joshlin Smith for financial gain after she disappeared in February 2024, the state suggests. Van Rhyn, alongside Kelly Smith and Jacquen Appollis, faces life imprisonment as the State presses for maximum sentences. The judiciary will continue sentencing this week. Judge Nathan Erasmus found Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking in connection with the disappearance of Joshlin Smith. He ruled that the State proved the guilt of all three on both charges in the case. On count 1, he convicted them of trafficking in persons. On count 2, he found them guilty of kidnapping. Joshlin Smith disappeared from her family's home in Saldanha Bay on 19 February 2024. All three accused had pleaded not guilty. 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.
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Matjhabeng municipality's appeal rejected amid financial challenges, service delivery collapse
The municipality's appeal application has no reasonable prospect of success, according to Judge Van Rhyn. Free State's Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State has suffered a legal setback after its appeal was dismissed. The appeal stemmed from a case filed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) against the municipality, which was brought before the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein. The DA argued that Matjhabeng was in a financial crisis and persistently failing to meet its obligations to provide basic municipal services and fulfil its financial commitments. In November 2023, the party requested the intervention of the Free State government and the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta). The Matjhabeng Local Municipality consists of the towns of Welkom, Virginia, Odendaalsrus, Hennenman, Ventersburg, and Allanridge. Matjhabeng municipality audit findings The case was largely informed by the Auditor-General's findings, which highlighted a range of serious issues within the municipality. The audit revealed that Matjhabeng lacked proper systems to accurately bill residents for water and electricity usage. It also showed that the municipality's water infrastructure was severely deteriorated, resulting in a loss of 56% of the water it procures due to infrastructure failure. These losses—exceeding R239 million—were a result of metering inefficiencies, ageing pipelines, burst pipes, leakages, and unmetered connections. The municipality was also found to owe Eskom R6.8 billion. ALSO READ: Eskom to disconnect 15 Free State towns over billions worth of debt Material electricity losses totalling more than R98 million were attributed to the condition of the electricity network, adverse weather, load pressures, and non-technical losses such as theft and vandalism. Moreover, the audit disclosed that more than R339 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure had been incurred, primarily from interest and penalties on overdue supplier payments. The municipality was also found to have failed to meet the 30-day payment requirement stipulated by the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). In October 2024, the Free State High Court ruled in favour of the DA and issued a declaratory order. The respondents in the case included the municipality itself, the President, the Cogta Minister, the National Treasury, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), and the Free State Premier. Leave to appeal application In its appeal, heard in March 2025, the Matjhabeng Local Municipality argued that the court erred in finding it had violated the constitution by failing to provide essential services. The municipality claimed that the current administration, which took office in November 2021, had inherited long-standing challenges. These included decaying infrastructure, poor service delivery, limited funding, and significant debts to service providers. According to the municipality, these problems had developed over time and were now the responsibility of the new leadership to resolve. READ MORE: Water wasted in Free State totals R3.7 billion in last seven years However, in her ruling, Judge Ilse van Rhyn pointed out that the municipality had not challenged any of the substantive facts or legal grounds presented by the DA in its original application. 'The Matjhabeng Municipality did not dispute the DA's case that there has been a breakdown in law and order, including rampant infrastructure theft, vandalism and illegal mining activities within the area of the Matjhabeng Municipality. 'The Matjhabeng Municipality has incurred staggering amounts of wasted and irregular expenses, including the outsourcing of its project management unit and furthermore paying for duplicated services and inflated invoices,' the judgment reads. Court dismisses Matjhabeng Municipality's appeal Van Rhyn emphasised that the facts presented by the DA about Matjhabeng Local Municipality's failure to meet constitutional obligations were not in dispute. 'While the DA contended that the only solution was to grant the substantive relief sought, by granting of a structural interdict and the imposition of intervention measures to the effect that the provincial spheres of government will intervene and impose a recovery plan, the opposing respondents, including the Matjhabeng [Local] Municipality argued that within a short period of time, much progress has indeed been made and that a further 12 months will afford them time to see the recovery steps to fruition.' She concluded the municipality's appeal application had no reasonable prospects of success and should be dismissed. The Matjhabeng Local Municipality was placed under administration by the Free State government in February. NOW READ: Free State government's buildings left in the dark due to their electricity debt
News24
23-04-2025
- News24
Judge dismisses discharge application in Joshlin Smith kidnapping trial
Two of the three people accused of the 2024 kidnapping and trafficking of then-6-year-old Joshlin Smith had applied for a discharge, but their application was denied by the Western Cape High Court. Joshlin's mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, and her co-accused, Steveno van Rhyn, lodged an application in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act for their discharge. An application for discharge is a request by the accused to be released from a criminal case. These applications are usually brought at the end of the State's case. The State closed its case in the kidnapping trial on Wednesday morning. The defence argued that the State had failed to present sufficient evidence for a reasonable court to convict the two accused. Judge Nathan Erasmus dismissed their application following brief arguments from the State and the defence. He did not give reasons for his ruling. While some in the public gallery quietly celebrated the judge's decision, members of Van Rhyn's family left the courtroom, shaking their heads in disagreement and disbelief. Van Rhyn and Smith shared their sentiment, briefly exchanging a glance before also shaking their heads. Following Erasmus' ruling, the lawyers for both Van Rhyn and the third accused, Jacquen "Boeta" Appollis, decided to close their cases without presenting any evidence. The trial continues.
