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Joslin’s disappearance sparks call to go back to basics

todayMarch 8, 2024 130

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Director of the Pink Ladies Organisation for Missing Children, Jacqui Thomas, says communities need to go back to looking after each other’s children.

She was responding to the disappearance of Joslin Smith, who has been missing for about two weeks now.

The six-year-old girl disappeared from her home in Saldanha Bay last month.

Her mother and her lover, who are said to be Tik users, are among the four people the state believes were involved in her abduction and trafficking.

According to reports, Joslin was sold for R20 000 and her clothes were found with blood stains at the weekend.

Thomas says she believes that people in the area in which the six-year-old lived knew what was happening, but chose to keep quiet.

 

Speaking to YNews, Thomas says although welfare officials could’ve been involved in Joslin and her siblings’ lives, nothing much could have come out of it as the country’s social development system is flawed.

She attributes her assertions to an alleged lack of leadership and real chain of command.

Thomas says government needs to fix this almost non-existent system.

 

Following concerns about the safety of Joslin’s siblings, the Western Cape social development officials intervened and placed the two children under the guardianship of relatives.

Acting Western Cape Social Development MEC, Nomafrench Mbombo, says social workers are however monitoring the situation.

 

Joslin’s mother, Kelly Smith, and her three co-accused appeared before the Vredenburg Magistrates Court yesterday and were remanded in custody until next week Wednesday when a formal bail application is set to be heard.

They are facing charges of kidnapping and trafficking of a persons for purposes of exploitation.

Angry community members have called for a harsh sentence for the 34-year-old mother.

 

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Eric Ntabazalila says more charges are likely to be added and the stateΒ will also oppose bail for the accused.

 

South Africans also reacted to the case, which has grabbed international interest.

Written by: Nonhlanhla Harris

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