The heartbreaking case of missing six-year-old Joslin Smith took a shocking turn during the ongoing child trafficking and kidnapping trial at the Saldanha Bay Multipurpose Centre. Joslin disappeared on February 19, 2024, from Middelpos, an informal settlement in Diazville, Western Cape. Her mother, Kelly Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, stands accused of selling Joslin to support their drug addiction.
Kelly Smith’s Sister Testifies
On March 17, 2025, Joslin’s aunt and a police constable, Mickeyla Daniels, took the witness stand during the third week of the trial. Mickeyla, the younger sister of Kelly Smith, revealed disturbing details about Kelly’s behavior and reaction in the days following Joslin’s disappearance.
Mickeyla testified that she had reached out to Kelly through WhatsApp and Facebook, desperate to understand what happened to her niece. Shockingly, Kelly allegedly admitted that Joslin was still in the squatter camp but that there had been an attempt to sell her. “My child is in the squatter camp. Someone wanted to buy her, but Saldanha was too heated,” Kelly reportedly told Mickeyla.
Despite initially sounding upset, Kelly’s tone shifted once Patriotic Alliance leader and now Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, got involved. Mickeyla testified that Kelly appeared “happy” and “laughing” after McKenzie started offering financial assistance.
Focus Shifts to Gayton’s Help, Not Joslin
Mickeyla further testified that Kelly’s focus quickly moved from Joslin to Gayton McKenzie’s help. “The more I asked her about Joslin, the more she told me about Gayton. She was happy,” Mickeyla said in court.
Gayton McKenzie had publicly shown support for Kelly and her children, meeting them at a local Spur restaurant where he bought them food. He later provided clothing and groceries. However, Mickeyla implied that Kelly seemed more excited about Gayton’s assistance than concerned about her missing daughter.
Disturbing Details Emerge About Joslin’s Disappearance
Adding to the horrifying revelations, state witness and former accused Lourentia Lombaard testified that Joslin was allegedly sold to a sangoma (traditional healer). According to Lourentia, the child was sold for R20,000 because of her unique green eyes and blonde hair.
Lourentia claimed that Kelly promised her R1,000 as hush money but never paid. When Lourentia confronted Kelly days after Joslin vanished, Kelly reportedly admitted she knew what happened to her daughter and that someone had paid her to remain silent. However, she refused to disclose who that person was.
“She told me the person who wanted Joslin wanted her for her eyes and skin,” Lourentia told the court.
Conclusion
As the trial continues, these harrowing testimonies have painted a grim picture of betrayal and desperation. The public watches closely, hoping for justice for little Joslin Smith, whose innocent life was caught in the crossfire of greed, addiction, and cruelty.