Joshlin Smith kidnapping and human trafficking case to be moved to Saldanha Bay
Joshlin has been missing for 11 months since her mother, Kelly Smith, allegedly sold her to an unknown woman near their Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay.
Missing 6-year-old Joshlin Smith. Picture: Western Cape Missing Persons Unit/Supplied.
CAPE TOWN - The kidnapping and human trafficking case related to missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith is set to be moved to Saldanha Bay.
Joshlin has been missing for 11 months since her mother, Kelly Smith, allegedly sold her to an unknown woman near their Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay.
Smith and two others were set to appear in the Western Cape High Court for a pre-trial hearing on Friday.
Kelly Smith appeared in court without her co-accused, Jacquen Appolis and Stevano van Rhyn, due to a clerical issue.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said that the two accused were still being held at Malmesbury Prison despite a request for them to be transferred to Cape Town.
Ntabazalila also confirmed the matter was set to be moved to a venue in Saldanha Bay when it goes to trial.
"There are issues where we will move the case to the Saldanha area which makes it easy for the people in that community and surrounding areas to have access to the case."
Ntabazalila said that the NPA would now choose a suitable venue for the trial to be held in Saldanha Bay.