Lourentia Lombaard (32), a woman who confessed to be connected to the disappearance of Joshlin Smith made her first court appearance at the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court on yesterday. She was arrested on Friday and is believed to be a friend of Kelly, Joslin's mother.

Lombaard told the court that she will be using the services of Legal Aid lawyer and her matter was postponed to 25 March for bail information. NPA Western Cape spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila said Lombaard was charged with trafficking in persons for exploitation and kidnapping. Joshlin went missing on February 19 after being left in the care of her mother's boyfriend Jacquen Appollis . On March 5, the police arrested Joshlin's mom Kelly, her boyfriend Appollis, Steveno Rhyn and Phumza Sigaqa for human trafficking and kidnapping. Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn who were remanded in custody during their court appearance last week, are expected back in court on May 13.

Last week, the state withdrew charges against the woman who was suspected to be a sangoma, Phumza, saying that there wasn't enough evidence against her. Police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, said: "Be advised that it is normal practice that during such intricate investigations, people of interest will be taken in for questioning or will be interviewed with the aim to solve such a case. As such, in the interest of solving this case and finding Joshlin, we cannot disclose operational details and give a blow-to-blow account as the investigation into finding Joshlin Smith as this can potentially jeopardise an ongoing investigation. We shall communicate with you should more people be charged to appear in a court of law," he said.