Cape Town — Kelly Smith, the mother of missing six-year-old, Joshlin Smith, is pregnant as she is currently awaiting trial in Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town.
Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquin Appollis, Steven van Rhyn, and Lourencia “Renz” Lombaard, were charged with human trafficking and kidnapping of Joshlin, who has now been missing since 19 February.
According to Reverend June Dolley-Major, an activist who has actively joined in the search for little Joshlin, revealed that Kelly is pregnant again and said she wanted to keep the news private, but following attacks on Kelly in prison, felt she needed to alert prison authorities, The Citizen reported.
Independent sources in the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and at the prison revealed that the 33-year-old mother was beaten up in the women’s awaiting-trial section by fellow remand prisoners. She was apparently placed in a single cell with only senior wardens allowed access to her, following the incident.
In @City_Press on Sunday.
Joshlin’s mom is pregnant: Kelly Smith, the mother of missing six-year-old Joshlin, is pregnant. An activist who has been assisting in the search for the missing girl fears for the mother and her unborn baby’s safety in prison. pic.twitter.com/nvDcbArsod— nosacredcows (@gabriel_seeber) March 23, 2024
Dolley-Major reached out to the DCS to ensure safety of Kelly and her unborn baby.
“I told them to follow up with her on whether she is pregnant and to make sure that she is held in a safe place because the baby can get hurt. The department then confirmed the pregnancy. Previously one could look after one’s baby in prison. There is a section for pregnant women and mothers with children. Mothers are usually allowed to look after their children born in prison for a period of two years,” Dolley-Major explained.
According to IOL, the search for Joshlin is still ongoing despite a dropoff from those actively searching for her.
“We appeal to community members and ‘influencers’ to refrain from posting unfounded and malicious intended messages with regards to the investigation on social media platforms,” Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
