There has been a breakthrough in the case of six-year-old Joslin Smith who was reported missing by her mother last month. Western Cape police discovered pieces of clothing with blood stains on Saturday night believed to belong to the sought-after minor.

Police spokesperson Malcom Poje said the blood-stained clothes were found in an open field as police were continuing with their search for Joslin. "The investigation team descended on the scene where the pieces of clothing were seized as part of an ongoing investigation. The clothing will be sent to our forensic laboratory for analysis," said Poje adding that while investigation continues, no arrests have been made. The discovery came after Police Minister Bheki Cele visited her home in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay on Saturday. 

On Friday Cele lashed at Democratic Alliance for claiming that the police had stopped the search for Joslin. He explained that only the police chopper was pulled off the search, but the K9 Unit and other SAPS members were still investigating. Cele said the SAPS is mandated by the Constitution to prevent, combat, and investigate crime and they will continue to do so and not leave communities on the edge. "It is clear the DA is trying to mislead its supporters and the South African public by peddling misinformation. The use of pain felt by a family waiting for their child to come home is most insensitive and is a new low," Cele said.

Joslin went missing on the 19th of February after her mother admitted to leaving her in the care of her boyfriend. The missing girl's father said he suspects that Joslin's disappearance is linked to a drug debt made by the child's mother and her boyfriend, who claimed he did nothing to the minor.