Suspects in Joslin Smith case appear in court

Four suspects, including Joslin Smith’s mother, have appeared at the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court in connection with the disappearance of the 6-year-old girl. The matter has been postponed to March 13. According to Africa News, the South African navy was brought in Monday to help with a search for the 6-year-old girl who went missing on 19 February 2024 in the Saldanha Bay area, near Cape Town.

Meanwhile, the BBC reports that the mother of Joslin, Kelly Smith was charged along with her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and two others, following their arrest. The four accused appeared in court but were not asked to plead in a case that has transfixed South Africans. A huge crowd gathered outside the court, chanting: “Bring back Joslin.” The prosecution alleges that Smith instructed Appollis and another of the accused, Stefano van Rhyn, to sell Joslin to a traditional healer for 20,000 rand, the privately owned Citizen newspaper reports.