JOSHLIN Smith was wanted for her “skin and green eyes”, the Western Cape High Court in Middelpos heard yesterday.
The chilling claim was made by former accused turned State witness Lourentia “Renz” Lombaard, as she took the stand for the third in a row, following explosive testimony last Thursday and Friday.
Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn and Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith are on trial in Saldanha Bay and face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking after disappearance of the then-six-year-old on 19 February 2024.
Last week, the court heard from Renz how Kelly had sold her daughter for R20 000 and that Kelly had told her about the deal, offering her R1 000 for her silence.
Lombaard said she saw Kelly the Friday following Joshlin’s disappearance. She saw Kelly walking near her house and called her.
She told Lombaard not to call her name too loudly as she knew people were looking for her.
Renz said: “I went out and went towards her [Kelly]. It was Kelly, Boeta, a lady and man, on their way to Kelly’s home.
“As Kelly entered the home, she asked me to come inside. I asked what she was looking for, she was looking for her son’s school clothes, bank card and ID.”
She further testified that Kelly never mentioned Joshlin, she only mentioned her two other children and the documentation she needed to collect.
The court heard during this time it was only Kelly and Lombaard in the home at the time.
Kelly said: “Renz, I know what I did to Joshlin. There was someone that paid me to keep quiet.”
Lombaard stated she asked who was paying her to keep quiet, but Kelly never mentioned the name.
Renz added: “She said the person who was looking for Joshlin was looking for her because they wanted her [Joshlin’s] eyes and skin.”
She further asked Kelly about the R1 000 payment she was to receive but never received it.
It was also the last time she saw Kelly on that day.
Lombaard said that when she gave a statement to the police, she only told them about the Monday when Joshlin disappeared.
She claims she did not tell them everything as she was scared at the time.
While she does admit to withholding the truth from police, Lombaard is adamant she is telling the court everything and “not withholding anything”.
