Social worker details how Joshlin Smith's mom's drug addiction caused family problems
Social worker, Sineziwe Mbambo, told the court she was requested to compile a report about the Smith family after six-year-old Joshlin Smith's disappearance.
Kelly Smith (right), Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn at the Western Cape High Court sitting at the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre on 11 March 2025. Picture: Carlo Petersen/EWN
CAPE TOWN - A social worker has provided details about how missing girl Joshlin Smith's mother, Kelly Smith's drug addiction was causing problems for her family as far back as 2016.
Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Stevano van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking related to the disappearance of Joshlin Smith.
The accused are on trial in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre.
ALSO READ: Co-accused claims Gayton McKenzie took him to police station after Joshlin Smith went missing
Social worker, Sineziwe Mbambo, told the court she was requested to compile a report about the Smith family after six-year-old Joshlin Smith's disappearance.
Mbambo said that during her research, she found files dated February 2016, which detailed how Kelly Smith was using drugs while she was pregnant with Joshlin.
At the time, Smith's eldest child was living with Smith's grandmother, who requested social services due to the child being neglected.
Mbambo told the court that at the time, the grandmother also applied for a protection order against Smith.
The social worker said that when the department of social services followed up with the family in July 2017, the grandmother had kicked Smith out of her home because she was still using drugs.
The trial continues.