Joshlin Smith must be found

WHERE is Joshlin Smith?

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

That is the question police hope their investigations will help answer as they move to the next phase of their work having secured life imprisonment sentences against her mother Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and their friend Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn for trafficking in persons for the purpose of exploitation, and kidnapping.

Joshlin went missing in February last year while in Appollis’ care.

The state maintained during the recent trial that the three had planned to sell the child for R20000.

The trio were each sentenced to 10 years for kidnapping and life imprisonment for human trafficking.

Police commissioner Fannie Masemola praised the investigating team comprising Captain Wesley Lombard, sergeants Fortuin, Van der Walt, Sangcozi, Haywood and Johnson.

“Phase two of the investigation commences and we are hoping we will find the child, wherever she is, she must still be found,” he said.

Minutes after Western Cape High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus handed down the sentences, Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn indicated their intention to appeal the court outcome.

Van Rhyn’s legal representative, Advocate Nobahle Mkabayi, said their fight was not over.