WC court cases that captured spotlight

IN THE Western Cape two high-profile cases emerged this year, intertwining themes of justice, community anguish, and the quest for accountability.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

The sentencing of Racquel “Kelly” Smith and her two co-accused to life imprisonment for the abduction of six-year-old Joshlin Smith sent shockwaves through Saldanha Bay, igniting calls for justice from a community still reeling from the tragedy.

Simultaneously, a landmark legal battle is unfolding as the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) and AfriForum challenge the City of Cape Town over controversial tariffs, raising questions about governance and the rights of citizens.

Joshlin Smith trial

In the wake of the sentencing, the search for the little girl continues.

Earlier this year, at the Western Cape High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay, Judge Nathan Erasmus jailed Joshlin’s mother, Kelly, and her two co-accused — Steveno van Rhyn and Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis (Kelly’s boyfriend) - for human trafficking and kidnapping.