Cape Town – The search for missing 6-year-old Joshlin Smith has escalated internationally, involving Interpol.
Police Minister Bheki Cele confirmed collaboration with Interpol, mentioning a search of a ship in London based on a tip-off, IOL reported.
However, there hasn’t been any breakthrough.
“It’s an awkward and painful case, especially after visiting the family and community. I found a very united community even when there was politics, but everybody agreed that the biggest (matter) was to find Joshlin … the South African police working with their sister organisation have expanded the net.
“A week ago, a (ship) was searched in London because there was information indicating she could have been in that one. It took about two and a half days for the ship to be searched. She could not be found there.
“The net has gone far beyond the borders of South Africa, working with sister organisations such as Interpol and other organisations. We hope to know one day where Joshlin is, the case back home in Saldanha is continuing and those people (accused) have not told us exactly where we would find Joshlin,” the report quoted Cele as saying in an interview with the SABC.
Joshlin has been missing since February 19th, prompting an escalation in the search efforts following suspicions that she might have been trafficked for R20,000.
Consequently, Joshlin’s mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin Appolis, aged 31, along with Steveno van Rhyn, aged 27, and Lourentia Lombard, aged 32, are all charged with kidnapping and trafficking.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
