Saldanha Bay community still hopeful that Joshlin Smith will be found unharmed

CAPE TOWN - The Saldanha Bay community is still hopeful that missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith will be found unharmed.

Monday marked four weeks since the little girl went missing from her family home in Middelpos.

Police made headway in the case over the weekend, when a fourth suspect was arrested for Joshlin's disappearance.

Earlier on Monday, Lourentia Lombaard made her first appearance in the Vredenburg Magistrates Court, where she was charged with kidnapping and human trafficking.

Lombaard, who made a confession to police, now joins Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, as accused number four in the matter.

Outside court, Saldanha Bay resident, Diego Dierdricks, told Eyewitness News the community hopes Lombaard will shed light on the whereabouts of Joshlin.   

"We still have hope but there's a thing called reality. It's been so long, I feel like you might think she's been harmed but we're still confident, we trust in God that she might be returned... that she will be returned back to us safely, unharmed." 

Lombaard is set to appear in court again on 25 March for a bail application.