A former co-defendant in the kidnapping case of Joshlin Smith testified in court that Kelly Smith claimed to have sold the girl to a sangoma. State witness Lourentia Lombaard, who took the stand for the second consecutive day, was arrested last year alongside Kelly, her boyfriend Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn. However, the charges against her were subsequently withdrawn, and she turned a state witness.

SOLD TO A SANGOMA FOR R20K

Lombaard, also known as Renz, recounted that the day before Joshlin's disappearance, she overheard Kelly allegedly telling Jacquen that someone was looking. Shortly thereafter, she said she heard Kelly receive a call and talk to the person on the other end in English. "I heard her tell the caller that she was on her way,' Lombaard testified. She stated that moments later, Kelly left with Joshlin and approached a white Polo, where a short black woman dressed in traditional sangoma attire exited and talked with Kelly. After some time, she says the sangoma gave Kelly 'something' which she put in one of her pockets.

SHE DID IT BECAUSE SHE WAS IN NEED OF MONEY 

Lombaard also told the court that on the same day, while outside Kelly's shack, through a broken window, she heard the mother allegedly telling her boyfriend, "Here is the money the sangoma gave for Joshlin.' She climbed Boeta asked how much it was, and Kelly replied that it was R20,000. "I went towards the door and asked Kelly what was going on. Her words to me were, "Renz, I did something bad, and I have just sold Joshlin to a sangoma. I asked why she did it, and her words were: 'I needed money and struggling,'' Lombaard told the court. Joshlin's mother Kelly, her boyfriend Jacquen and their friend Steveno van Rhyn are facing charges of kidnapping and human trafficking. The court was adjourned until Monday.