The fourth suspect arrested in connection with the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith has abandoned her bid to apply for bail. Lourentia Lombaard made a brief appearance at Vredenburg Magistrates Court today and confirmed with a "yes" when asked about her decision to abandon bail.

Joshlin disappeared on 19 February and her mother Kelly Smith as well as her co-accused boyfriend, Jacquen "Boeta" Appolis , Steveno van Rhyn and an alleged sangoma who has since been discharged, were arrested after a long search for the girl. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said they cannot reveal what was said by Lombaard in her confession to the media and that the information will only be revealed in court. "The earliest we reveal the confession is if one of them applies for bail. We still don't have the child. We still don't know where the child is," he added. Lombaard faces a schedule six offence linked to the kidnapping and trafficking of Joshlin.

Joshlin's mother said the child did not go to school on the day she went missing because she was sick and when she arrived home after work, she was missing. She was left in the care of Kelly's boyfriend, Appollis, who claimed he had no idea what happened to the child. They also abandoned the option to apply for bail. The Citizen reported that Kelly is pregnant and has been put in a single cell since she was assaulted when she got to Pollsmoor prison. According to Reverend June Dolley-Major, an activist, who spoke to the publication, she has already reached out to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to ensure the safety of the mother 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, Dolley-Major explained. 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. The case was postponed to 15 May.