Development in South African Girl’s Disappearance: New Suspect Charged
A recent development has emerged in the case of the disappearance of six-year-old Joslin Smith, who vanished from her home near Saldanha Bay, situated approximately 110km (70 miles) northwest of Cape Town, last month.
During a hearing at the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court in the Western Cape province on Monday, a 32-year-old woman was formally charged with kidnapping and human trafficking in connection with the case. This arrest marks an addition to the individuals already in custody, which includes Joslin’s mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and another suspect. All are facing similar charges related to kidnapping and trafficking.
It’s worth noting that a traditional healer who was initially detained has been released due to insufficient evidence.
The newly apprehended suspect is scheduled to undergo a bail hearing on 25th March, while Kelly Smith and the other defendants are set to appear in court again on 13th May. Despite exhaustive efforts, Joslin’s whereabouts remain unknown, leaving her family and the community deeply distraught.
Expressing her unwavering determination to locate her daughter, Kelly Smith conveyed to The Daily Voice, “My motherly instincts are telling me my daughter is still alive and in this area. We will find her, I will walk on foot to find her. I will look in every little shack, I’m going to do it by myself if I have to.”
Before her disappearance, Joslin was under the care of Kelly Smith’s boyfriend, who maintains his innocence in the matter.
Statistics indicate that, on average, a child goes missing every five hours in South Africa, with the majority eventually being located. Nevertheless, the search for Joslin Smith persists as authorities and loved ones hold onto hope for her safe return.
