Joshlin Smith's mother, co-accused set to appear in court for pre-trial hearing
Joshlin has been missing for a year since her mother allegedly sold her to an unknown woman near their Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay.
Missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith's mother, Kelly Smith, in the Western Cape High Court for a pre-trial hearing on 29 February 2025. Picture: Carlo Petersen/EWN
CAPE TOWN - Missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith's mother, Kelly Smith, is set to appear in the Western Cape High Court on Friday for a pre-trial hearing.
Joshlin has been missing for a year since her mother allegedly sold her to an unknown woman near their Middelpos home in Saldanha Bay.
ALSO READ: Joshlin Smith kidnapping and human trafficking case to be moved to Saldanha Bay
Smith's co-accused, Jacquen Appolis and Stevano van Rhyn, are set to join her in the dock after missing their previous appearance.
Appolis and Van Rhyn were still being held at Malmesbury Prison after a failed request for them to be transferred to Cape Town.
The three accused face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking after allegedly selling six-year-old Joshlin to an unknown woman.
The State has confirmed the case is set to be transferred to a venue in Saldanha Bay to give the community access to the trial.
HOPE REMAINS JOSHLIN WILL BE FOUND ALIVE
One year after Joshlin disappeared, there is still hope the little girl can be found alive.
A West Coast resident and the founder of NPO Pay It Forward, Greg Clifton, is still actively involved in the search for the little girl.
“The child was gotten rid of as a live child. We just don’t know where to, we don’t know the exact how. Hopefully, this will all come out in the upcoming court case.”