Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith are accused of the disappearance of Smith's daughter, Joshlin.
Image: Mandilakhe Tshwete
The eighth day of the trial into the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith began with the cross-examination of social worker Siliziwe Mbambo.
Testifying before the Western Cape High Court, currently sitting at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Mbambo on Wednesday explained how she came across the missing girl’s file.
She told the court that she first made contact with Joshlin’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, on 23 February 2024, four days after the child vanished.
Kelly claimed she had left Joshlin in the care of her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, who later used drugs that day with their friends, Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn and Laurentia Lombaard.
All four were arrested, but Lombaard later turned state witness.
During cross-examination, Kelly’s attorney, Rinesh Sivnarain, disputed claims that Kelly's grandmother had reported her for abusing her son. He argued that she had visited him while Kelly's son was living with his grandmother.
Mbambo, however, stood by the official records, stating that the file indicated Kelly had only visited occasionally.
Sivnarain also noted that Kelly had sought assistance from social workers and was admitted to a shelter due to alleged abuse by Joshlin’s father.
He stated that she had endured six years of abuse from him. Mbambo confirmed that the records reflected allegations of domestic abuse by Kelly's boyfriend at the time.
Mbambo's testimony was concluded around 10 am.
A new witness, Edna Maart, Joshlin's teacher, then took the stand.
Later today, popular TikToker Shakeerah Ganief is expected to testify. Ganief was among those who travelled from Cape Town to Saldanha Bay to assist in the search for Joshlin following her disappearance.
The trial continues.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za