Carlo Petersen 21 February 2025 | 16:10

Investigation to find missing 6-year-old Joshlin Smith is still ongoing

The little girl has been missing for a year after disappearing from her Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay in February last year.

Investigation to find missing 6-year-old Joshlin Smith is still ongoing

Kelly Smith (centre) and Lourencia Lombaard (right) appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrates Court on 21 October 2024 related the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith. Picture: Carlo Petersen/Eyewitness News

CAPE TOWN - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says the investigation to find missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith is still ongoing.

Joshlin's mother — Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn appeared in the Western Cape High Court on Friday where they face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking related to Joshlin's disappearance.

The little girl has been missing for a year after disappearing from her Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay in February last year.

READ: NPA says it has a strong case against Joshlin Smith's mother and two co-accused

Missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith's mother and her two co-accused Jacquen Appolis and Stevano van Rhyn are set to go on trial on the third of March.

But with the trial now set to commence there's still no sign of the missing girl.

NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila says the search for Joshlin continues.

 "The investigation was never closed. It's still continuing. Police are still following any leads that are coming up, and if anyone knows of anything, we ask them to meet with the investigating officers. The investigation is still ongoing, but we are continuing with the charges that we've preferred against the three accused."    

Ntabazalila says the NPA hopes more light will be shed on Joshlin's whereabouts during the trial.