The trial in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith will be held in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, where the missing girl is from. This was announced by Western Cape High Court Judge Gayaat Da Silva Salie today during the appearance of Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith.

IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC

Judge Da Silva Salie said in court that she decided to move it to the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court as she was aware that the Saldanha Bay community would like to attend the proceedings when the matter goes to trial. "This would be in the interest of justice to have residents access to the matter. The matter must be enrolled in an appropriate venue that will be able to hold the large-scale proceedings,' Da Silva Salie said. She added: "We are dealing with kidnapping and human trafficking. There is a missing person here. The State needs to conduct its research and find a suitable venue.'

 CO-ACCUSED NOT IN COURT 

Joshlin went missing on 19 February last year in Diazville, Saldanha, while in the care of her mother's boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis, who is a co-accused in the matter. Appolis's friend Steveno van Rhyn is also implicated in the matter. The trio, including Joshlin's mother, are facing charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. It's believed that the little girl was sold and is still alive. Smith appeared in court today at the pre-trial hearing with her co-accused nowhere to be seen. The National Prosecuting Authority said Appollis and Van Rhyn,who are at Malmesbury Prison, were not able to attend due to an administrative error. NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila: "It was a clerical error that's why we ended up only with accused number three, who's the mother, but we will ensure when we come back on 28 February that all three accused are present in court." The case has been adjourned until 28 February.