Court hears that Kelly Smith wouldn't allow Joshlin's aunt to adopt her
Natasha Andrews told the court that she wanted to adopt Joshlin because she knew Kelly Smith was in an abusive relationship with the child's father.
Kelly Smith (right), Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn listen to testimony in the Western Cape High Court sitting at the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre on 10 March 2025. Picture: Carlo Petersen/EWN
SALDANHA BAY - Joshlin Smith's aunt took the stand on Monday to testify in the trial related to the little girl's disappearance.
Joshlin's mother Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking.
The trial of the accused is in week two at the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre, which has been proclaimed a high court for this case.
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Joshlin Smith's aunt, Natasha Andrews, told the court that she wanted to adopt the little girl but Kelly Smith would not allow it.
Andrews told the court that she wanted to adopt Joshlin because she knew Smith was in an abusive relationship with the child's father.
On the day Joshlin disappeared, Andrews said that she gave police a photograph of the child because Smith had none.
She said that the next day she found Smith in distress at the police station, repeatedly saying she had lost her child.
Andrews said she visited Smith three times at Pollsmoor Prison after her arrest to ask her what happened to Joshlin.
She said that on all three occasions, Smith told her she did not know where Joshlin was.