Saldanha Bay preacher says Kelly Smith told him about plan to sell her 3 children
Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and his friend Stevan van Rhyn are on trial for allegedly selling Joshlin Smith to an unknown woman.
Joshlin Smith's mother, Kelly Smith (R), and co-accused Jacquen Appolis and Stevano van Rhyn are charged with kidnapping and human trafficking. Picture: Carlo Petersen/EWN.
JOHANNESBURG - A Saldanha Bay preacher said that Kelly Smith told him about her plan to sell all three of her children for R20,000.
Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and his friend, Stevano van Rhyn, are on trial for allegedly selling Joshlin Smith to an unknown woman.
The accused are on trial in the Western Cape High Court sitting in the Saldanha Bay Multi-Purpose Centre.
The State's thirteenth witness, Steven Coetzee, told the court that Kelly Smith told him that she had made arrangements to sell all three of her children.
Coetzee said that he first met Smith at a church service in 2016 and became acquainted because they were both from Namaqualand.
He told the court that he met Smith on his way to work near Middelpos in August 2023, when she told him she wanted to get rid of her children.
Smith allegedly told Coetzee that she planned to sell the children for R20,000 and was waiting for "the people" to get back to her.
Coetzee said Smith told him if she did not get the full amount, she'd be happy with R5,000.
He said that Smith told him: "They will look for the children, but they won't find anything because they will take them far away."
The trial continues.
Kelly Smith has denied neglecting her eldest child due to drug abuse prior to Joshlin’s birth. Smith says she approached social services for help in 2018 because she was homeless at the time. CP pic.twitter.com/GKHJV6SbaJ
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 12, 2025