A fourth suspect has appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court in connection with the disappearance of Joslin Smith. Lorentia Lombaard (36) made a brief appearance in court on Monday in connection with the disappearance of the 6-year-old last month.
Joslin disappeared on 19 February while playing outside her home in the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape. She was left in the care of her mother’s boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis.
According to prosecutor Jacques van Zyl, Lombaard has allegedly confessed to being involved in Joslin’s disappearance.
Lombaard is now part of the group of people accused in the case, which includes Racquel Chantel Smith (also known as Kelly Smith), the mother of the missing Joslin (6), the aforementioned Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn. They are facing charges related to kidnapping and human trafficking in connection with Joslin’s disappearance.
Concerns escalated after suspicions emerged that Joslin might have been trafficked for a sum of R20,000. During court proceedings, it was alleged that Smith instructed Appolis and Van Rhyn to sell Joslin to another individual for muti, a traditional medicine.
Lombaard will appear again on 25 March to apply for bail. If denied bail, she will appear in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s court on 13 May 2024 with the other three suspects.
Phumza Siqaqa, who was initially charged along with Smith, Appollis, and Van Rhyn, had her case dropped because the State found insufficient evidence linking her to the incident. She has since gone into hiding.
