Cape Town — The brother of Joshlin Smith’s mother, Kelly Smith, has shared his thoughts on the ongoing trial, emphasising that the focus should remain on what happened to Joshlin, rather than on unrelated matters.
The Joshlin Smith trial has entered its second week, with several witnesses already taking the stand.
The latest witness was Kelly Smith’s sister, Mickeyla Daniels, a police constable from Upington.
Daniels revealed that she had called her sister after Joshlin went missing. However, she claimed that Kelly seemed more focused on the assistance she received from Gayton McKenzie than on the whereabouts of her daughter.
“I called Kelly on WhatsApp and asked her where Joshlin was. She responded, saying, ‘My child is here in the informal settlement. Someone wanted to sell my child, but it’s too heated,’” Daniels said.
Kelly Smith’s sister, Mickeyla Daniels, testified in the Western Cape High Court on Monday, revealing that a week after Joshlin Smith’s disappearance, Kelly claimed the child was still in the Middlepos informal settlement. #AfricanInsider https://t.co/xsuwgpZYxI
— African Insider (@AfricanInsider2) March 17, 2025
As reported by IOL, following Daniels’ court appearance, the topic centered more so around the contrasting looks between Mickeyla and Kelly.
Kelly’s youngest brother, identified as “Mnr Daniels” has spoken out after his niece went missing. He took to Facebook (the post has since been deleted) and said he did not want any part to play in the matter.
“The focus should be on the important matters at hand, specifically what happened to Joshlin. The attention on my sister’s looks or Kelly’s looks is misplaced. What truly matters is the case of young, innocent Joshlin and the circumstances of her disappearance. [sic]”
Daniels was saddened by what happened to his niece and called out his sister for being a bad mother, asking people not to judge him or his family based on Kelly’s poor actions.
[WATCH] Adv. Fanie Harmse argues that Lourentia Lombaard’s statement that Kelly Smith threatened to kill Boeta with a knife during an argument is not true. He adds that the people who were present at the time can testify that this is not true. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/uDJkszAsS4
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 19, 2025
He explained that Kelly was exceptionally bright and graduated from school with good grades but chose the path of drugs instead.
“After my mother met my father, they worked hard to improve their financial situation and offered Kelly help on multiple occasions to get her life back on track but she refused. Kelly even told my mother that she would have children to spite her,” the brother said.
He said Kelly remained on drugs when her eldest child was born and the family supported him and gave him gifts and clothes, doing the same for Joshlin after she was born. He said the family tried hard to get Joshlin and her brother out of that situation.
The brother stated Kelly’s son is now being reared in a loving environment and this has shown a significant difference for the young boy.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
