Community demands truth about Joslin’s whereabouts

Tensions flared outside the Vrendenburg Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where the accused in the Joslin Smith disappearance case were appearing.

The six-year-old’s mother, her lover and two other co-accused made their second appearance facing charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.

Charges against accused number four, Phumza Sigaqa, were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.

However, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), she could be charged in future should investigations find damning evidence against her.

Joslin’s mother and the two remaining co-accused have abandoned their bail application.

NPA spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, says the matter will return to court on the 13th of May.

 

Outside the court, scores of people called for swift justice for Joslin, who has been missing since February.

The police used rubber bullets to disperse the community members who were angry over the erection of a barb wire which blocked them from entering the court grounds.

The residents also demanded that the accused reveal the six-year-old’s whereabouts.

Calling for the suspects to be denied bail, the residents declared that: “They are better inside than outside”.

 

The residents believe that Joslin’s mother, known as Kelly, instructed Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis and Steveno Van Rhyn to sell the six-year-old to another Middelpos man for R20 000 for muthi purposes.

After charges were withdrawn against Sigaqa, who is believed to be a sangoma, some community members rejoiced – saying they knew that she wasn’t involved in this cruel crime.

Search for Joslin continues

Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, says their main focus now is finding Joslin and bringing her back home.

 

Patekile also rubbished claims that Joslin was sold for R20 000, saying the police had no such knowledge.

However, he did confirm that a young girl’s clothes with blood stains were found during the search for Joslin and says investigations into that are in full swing.