Cape Town – Kelly Smith, accused of kidnapping and human trafficking in the Joshlin Smith case, has alleged that the State’s key witness, Lourentia Lombaard, is the true mastermind behind the child’s disappearance.
This statement was given on Wednesday during cross-examination, as Lombaard testified before the Western Cape High Court, which was convened at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay.
Smith’s lawyer, Rinesh Sivnarain, argued in court that Lombaard and her boyfriend, Ayanda Letoni, were responsible for Joshlin’s fate and that Lombaard testified against Smith to protect herself and Letoni.
Watch the court proceedings below (Courtesy of SABC News)
Lombaard had previously testified that she saw Smith sell Joshlin to a sangoma for R20,000. However, Sivnarain challenged her, pointing out that she was the last person seen with Joshlin and questioning her whereabouts at the time.
Lombaard admitted to taking Joshlin to make a sandwich but claimed she later returned her.
Smith also suggested that Letoni fled Saldanha Bay shortly after Joshlin’s disappearance because he was involved in the case.
Lombaard was initially arrested alongside Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn.
However, her charges were dropped after she turned State witness under Section 204.
Joshlin disappeared from her Middelpos home on February 19, 2024, while reportedly in Boeta’s care.
