By: Natasha Archary

Seven months after Joslin Smith went missing from her Saldanha Bay home, her case will be transferred from the Vredenburg Magistrates Court to the High Court, as new evidence emerges.
This comes after the 4 suspects who were arrested in connection with the 6-year-old’s disappearance made their last appearance in court on Monday, 16 September.
The suspects including Joslin’s mother and her boyfriend, Kelly Smith and Jacquin Appollis, Steveno Dumaizio van Rhyn and Lorentia Lombard were arrested as investigations into Joslin’s disappearance continued.
Joslin was last seen on 19 February after being left in the care of Appollis but it was later revealed that the little girl was allegedly sold by the 4 suspects facing kidnapping and human trafficking charges.
Kelly and Appollis are crystal meth users and it has been reported that Joslin was sold to free off their drug debt.
On 02 March, blood-stained clothing believed to be that of Joslin’s was found a few kilometres from the Diazville informal settlement that Joslin is said to have gone missing from.
The search for little Joslin went on for months but has been a fruitless mission to find her and 7 months later there is still no sign of her.
Joslin’s case was meant to be transferred to the High Court but the State requested a postponement to investigate the latest evidence that was presented to the court.
The State will be presenting an indictment and a summary of facts to both the court and the defendants’ legal representatives.
The matter has been postponed to 21 October 2024 and all 4 suspects are to remain in custody.



