Joslin Smith's mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, a sangoma Phumza Sigaqa and Steveno van Rhyn made their first appearance at the Vredenburg Magistrates Court today in connection with the little girl's disappearance. The four applied for legal aid and their matter has been postponed to next week for formal bail application.
CONFESSION
Police revealed yesterday that a suspect had been arrested after a confession. The suspect allegedly told police that Joshlin was sold to a woman (sangoma) for R20,000. It is alleged that six-year-old grade 1 learner was sold for muthi. Joshlin's father had previously said the police should arrest his baby mama and her boyfriend because he believed they knew where the missing child was. Kelly said she last saw her daughter around 12pm on the 19th of February before she went to work. She said she left Joshlin in the care of Appollis, who on national television insisted that he had nothing to do with the child's disappearance but admitted that she was left in his care. She also admitted having been addicted to drugs but claimed she had been clean for a week. Kelly admitted to taking crystal meth to be specific which she referred to as "Tik". "I did use Tik but at this moment I'm clean. To tell you the truth, I've been clean for a week only." she said in one interview. Kelly had previously said she tried to get hold of her boyfriend from the time she got back from work around 5pm on the day Joslin went missing. Kelly said when she found her boyfriend and asked him where the child was, he couldn't account.
THERE WERE SIGNS
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed on Sunday that clothing belonging to Joshlin, a sheet and a knife had been found late on Saturday evening in an open field, about a kilometre away from the hut where Joshlin and her two siblings lived with Kelly and Appollis. "The investigation team descended on the scene where the pieces of clothing were seized as part of ongoing investigation. The clothing will be sent to our forensic laboratory for analysis, "said Pojie.
