The human trafficking case involving missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith has been moved until October 21 after the State stated that it has fresh evidence and needs more time to investigate it.
Joshin’s mother, Raquel “Kelly” Smith, appeared at the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, along with Jacquen Appolis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Lourentia Lombard, all in relation to her disappearance.
The organization has been charged with kidnapping and trafficking of humans for exploitation.
Speaking before the media outside court, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila stated that since their last appearance in July and today, they have discovered fresh information that has to be probed.
“It’s important evidence which is at a very sensitive stage of investigation and hence we asked for a postponement,” explained him.
Ntabazalila stated that the matter can only be forwarded to the Western Cape High Court after the investigation is completed.
Joshlin, a grade one student at Diazville Primary School in Saldanha, went missing on February 19, 2024.
According to reports, Smith had left Joshlin in the custody of her boyfriend, Appolis, at the time the youngster went missing.
The State claims Joshlin was sold for R20,000.
There has been no new information on the whereabouts of the green-eyed youngster, but locals of Saldanha Bay remain optimistic that she will be located.
Last month, an American psychic named Kandis Starr claimed to have made touch with Joshlin.
Starr’s video on TikTok featured a playhouse, a teddy bear, a picture of Elmo from Sesame Street, and a manipulated photograph of Joshlin in which she claimed to be channeling the missing girl.
Starr informed her viewers that the young girl had died.
