Renewed search for Joshlin as investigation unfolds

JOSHLIN Smith's paternal grandmother says she was shocked to learn that there were new developments in the case of the missing child, not from police, but from the media.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

Louretta Yon spoke out after police released a statement confirming they were acting on new information, prompting a renewed search operation in the Middelpos informal settlement, where Joshlin disappeared.

The 6-year-old girl went missing on February 9 last year, from her home in Saldanha Bay while in the care of convicted child trafficker Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis.

Her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, said she was at work at the time.

Police spokesperson, Novela Potelwa, said: “Western Cape police descended on Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay on Friday afternoon, pursuing emerging information as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Joshlin Smith.