Latest news with #VredenburgMagistrate'sCourt
The South African
12-05-2025
- The South African
Woman accused of torching Kelly Smith's home granted R500 bail
The woman accused of burning down the house of Kelly Smith has been granted R500 bail in the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court. According to EWN , the incident occurred on Friday, 2 May 2025, hours after Kelly Smith was found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking. Smith was convicted alongside two co-accused, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn. It is alleged that the three sold Joshlin Smith for R20 000. The then-six-year-old Joshlin disappeared from her home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024 and is yet to be found. Monique Kekana was arrested on Friday, 2 May, for arson, on the scene in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay. The 27-year-old woman told Newzroom Africa that she is happy to be released because she was scared. The woman said that she had heard a lot of terrifying stories about Pollsmoor prison. Kekana told the court that the reason she burnt the place was because she wanted justice for Joshlin. Although she admitted guilt to the police, Kekana plans to plead not guilty to the charges. The woman said she burnt the place because she is also a mother. 'I was a little bit drunk, but I did it. I don't have any regrets because what I did, I did it for Joshlin and for justice for the child,' she said. The case has been postponed until 27 June 2025. A 48-year-old SAPS sergeant was granted R500 bail by the Gqeberha Magistrate's Court. Nomvuyiseko Somekete from Kabega Park police station was arrested for 16 counts of fraud charges. On Wednesday, 7 May 2025, Somekete was arrested for allegedly committing fraud by taking out 16 fake life insurance policies totalling over R1.1 million. She was released on R500 bail the following day. It is alleged that she impersonated relatives, claiming to be the victims' aunt, cousin, mother, and even wife, to cash in on the policies without their knowledge. 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
12-05-2025
- The Citizen
‘I did it for Joshlin': Woman admits to burning down Kelly Smith's shack
The accused was granted R500 bail on Monday. Joshlin Smith's mother, Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, at White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha Bay on 2 May 2025. Picture: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach The woman accused of setting fire to the shack belonging to Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, the mother of missing child Joshlin Smith, has been released on bail. Monique Kekana appeared for the second time in the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court on Monday. She faces an arson charge relating to the 2 May incident in Middelpos, Saldanha, where Smith's home was reduced to ashes. The blaze occurred just hours after Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacques Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn were convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking in connection to Joshlin's disappearance. Kekana was subsequently arrested and made her initial court appearance on 5 May. Arson suspect granted bail over Kelly Smith fire During the proceedings, the court heard that Kekana had cooperated with law enforcement and handed herself over to the police. The prosecution also reportedly confirmed that the 27-year-old woman had no prior convictions or outstanding warrants. The court granted her bail of R500. Her case was postponed to 27 June. Speaking to eNCA outside the courthouse, Kekana expressed a sense of relief after spending a week at Cape Town's Pollsmoor Prison. 'I was crying even there in Pollsmoor for the week,' she said. ALSO READ: 'She must tell me where my grandchild is': Kelly's mother wants answers after Joshlin Smith trial verdict Kekana admitted to setting Kelly's shack on fire. 'I did it for all the mothers out there,' she said, explaining her emotional state at the time. 'I was very angry, emotional, and that's why I did what I did.' The mother of two criticised Kelly Smith for not speaking up about Joshlin's fate. 'She knows where the child is and she knows the child is not dead. I just wanted to open her mouth because we are also mothers. 'So I did it because I'm also a mother. I was also arrested, but I learned from my mistake.' Calls for truth about missing Joshlin Smith Kekana said there was growing frustration within the Middelpos community over Kelly's silence during her trial. 'They wanted to hear from her because she knows what happened to the child. My message would be to Kelly, she must just open her heart. 'She gave birth to that child [after] nine months. How can you just sell your child just like that? Just for money. How can a mother do what she did?' READ MORE: Joshlin Smith trial: State relying on witness who fooled three cops – defence Asked if she had a personal relationship with Smith, Kekana clarified. 'No, not really. I didn't know her. Just by passing by there, when I go to my friends I used to see her there,' she said, adding that she used to see Joshlin playing with other children in the area. Kekana later told Newzroom Afrika that she was 'a little bit drunk' when she burned down the shack, but expressed no regrets. 'I don't have any regrets because what I did, I did it for Joshlin.' Joshlin Smith's disappearance Joshlin Smith was reported missing on 19 February 2024 from her home in Middelpos. Her disappearance led to an extensive search and months-long investigation, which resulted in the arrests of her mother, Appollis and Van Rhyn. The trio is due to be sentenced on 29 May. NOW READ: Joshlin Smith trial: State insists 6-year-old was sold for R20k in closing arguments
News24
05-05-2025
- News24
Woman accused of torching Joshlin Smith's home to remain in custody for another week
A woman has appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court for allegedly torching Joshlin Smith's home. The house was set alight on Friday, hours after Joshlin's mother, Kelly, was found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking. The accused has been remanded until her bail hearing next week. The Middlepos woman accused of torching Joshlin Smith's home will remain in custody for another week. Monique Kekana, 27, briefly appeared in the Vredenburg Magistraste's Court on Monday for allegedly setting the house alight. The incident took place just hours after Joshlin's mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, and her two accused were convicted of kidnapping and trafficking. Kekana has been remanded in custody until 12 May for a bail hearing. On Friday night, the home where missing Joshlin once lived was burnt to the ground. READ | Kelly Smith has been found guilty, but where is Joshlin? This after Judge Nathan Erasmus found Smith, her partner, Jacquen "Boeta" Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, guilty of kidnapping and trafficking Joshlin. Local councillor Veronique Pretorius said the community sentiment overall supported Kekana, with many locals expressing that they wanted the house to be destroyed. Pretorius said this was most likely due to claims that drug users were using it, and this had made residents feel unsafe. "Many of the people in the community are saying there's a reason why the house was burned down. It was planned," Pretorius claimed. Joshlin went missing on 19 February 2024 and has still not been found despite ongoing searches by the police. The multipurpose centre in Saldanha Bay, where the trial has been held for the last seven weeks, was packed to capacity for the judgment on Friday. People clapped when they heard the final verdict, while Smith was tearful. Delivering his judgment on Friday, Erasmus said Joshlin had been "exchanged" and "sold like a commodity". In a judgment that took him more than two hours to deliver, Erasmus said the State's evidence stood uncontested and added that it then became a proven fact.
