Joshlin Smith’s mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, told a church leader that an upcoming event would make Middelpos “ look like a movie” before the meisie went missing.
Saldanha Bay resident and evangelist Steven Coetzee shared this information while giving evidence at the Western Cape High Court, which is sitting at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville.
Kelly is standing trial for kidnapping and human trafficking of her own daughter, alongside berk Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis and their friend Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn, after she disappeared on 19 February 2024.
Saldanha Bay resident and evangelist Steven Coetzee took the stand yesterday to give chilling testimony.
Coetzee said he spoke to Kelly one morning in August 2023.
He shared: “I asked her where her children were, and she said they were in Boeta’s care. She told me that it was a bad family, and that was why she planned to have the children taken away.
“She also mentioned that she was waiting for people who were supposed to come to her, but they had let her down. She said that if they came this time and didn’t have the full R20 000, she would settle for R5 000.”
He adds: “She assured me that in January or February, Middelpos would look like a movie scene.
“You will see with your own eyes what will happen in Middelpos, Diazville. It will be like a movie - vehicles, pedestrians, people everywhere. They will search but won’t find anything because I will make the child go far away.”