Joshlin 'wanted for her skin, eyes', court hears

The person who took Joshlin Smith wanted her for her eyes and skin.

- Carien Grobler

The Western Cape High Court in Saldanha Bay heard this chilling testimony yesterday from Lourentia "Rens" Lombaard, a friend of Joshlin's mother Kelly, who allegedly made a shocking admission.

Allegations about Joshlin being sold to a sangoma were heard in the high-profile trial surrounding the six-year-old girl's disappearance on 19 January last year.

Lombaard was previously arrested for the kidnapping and human trafficking of Joshlin. The charges were dropped after she became a state witness.

She testified that Smith told Jacquen "Boeta" Appollis that Joshlin should be ready at 2pm the day she vanished.

She said she would return by then because "the people" were fetching her.

Lombaard recalled seeing Smith and Joshlin walking with a black cooler bag Smith had packed for Joshlin. She then saw Smith and Joshlin get into the same VW Polo she had seen the previous day.

According to Lombaard, on the Friday after Joshlin's disappearance, she saw Smith on the way to her house.