The social worker who attended to Kelly Smith's family after the disappearance of her daughter, Joshlin, told the court that she abused and neglected her children because of drug use. Today is the seventh day of the trial at the Western Cape High Court sitting in Saldahna Bay. 

SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO THE SOCIAL WORKERS

Siliziwe Mbambo, a social worker from the Department of Social Development, testified that Kelly Smith's family had brought concerns to their attention in February 2016. She said Kelly's grandmother reported that Kelly was neglecting her eldest child because of drugs. "In the report, it was indicated that she swore at the child and even threatened to stab him. It was revealed in our investigations that she also threatened to assault her grandmother. It was recorded in the file that on the same day, the grandmother wanted to obtain a protection order against Kelly,' Mbambo said.

TRAUMATISED BY HER CHILD'S DISAPPEARANCE 

Mbambo told the court that they reached out to Kelly's family after a community-based organisation informed her of Joshlin's disappearance. "They reported to me about a missing child who was identified as Joshlin Smith. The matter was already reported to the police,' testified Mbambo, who added that for a few days, she struggled to get hold of Kelly as she was out searching for the missing girl. She finally managed to see her on 24 February, five days after Joshlin went missing. "From my assessment as a social worker, she was traumatised by her child's disappearance. During our engagement, she was emotional.' Mbambo told the court that Kelly confirmed to her that Joshlin did not go to school on the day she disappeared because her school uniform was not washed. "Her friends told me that she was using drugs but that she was a loving mother. She confirmed that she used drugs but said the last time she took the drugs was on the day her daughter went missing. She also confirmed that she had gone for rehabilitation in the past, but she relapsed and went back to drugs,' added Mbambo.

Yesterday, an investigating officer, Constable Refiloe Sekhobe, testified that the police were told that Joshlin was sold to a traditional healer. Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appolis, and Stevano van Rhyn are standing trial for the six-year-old's disappearance. The trio, who are facing charges of kidnapping and human trafficking, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial continues.