LIMELIGHT: Kelly Smith arrives in court on Day 4 of the trial
Image: Ayanda Ndamane
Bombshells continue to drop in the Joshlin Smith matter yesterday as Saldanha’s top cop threw the spotlight on her mom’s gedrag.
Kelly Smith is on trial for kidnapping and human trafficking, alongside berk Jacquen "Boeta" Adonis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn at the Western Cape High Court, sitting in Joshlin’s hometown of Saldanha Bay.
Taking to the witness box, Lieutenant-Colonel Lincoln Sebola explained how the police searched for Joshlin and how he had been leading searches himself after Joshlin was reported missing on 19 February 2024.
Sebola told the court members of the local SAPS, members of the Public Order Policing, members of the Seaboard policing (port of entry), law enforcement, six community leaders and approximately 120 members of the community took part.
As the days progressed, the City of Cape Town was called in, with a total of 380 police officials were part of the search for Joshlin.
With all eyes on Middelpos, Sebola also mentioned that Kelly was set to meet the then-Police Minister, Bheki Cele.
He said he interacted with Kelly two times before she met with Cele.
Sebola testified: “When she came into the charge office, she was communicating with a SAPS officer whom she knew.
“She was acting like it’s normal that her child was not there. What concerned me was when she said in her own words: ‘My child Joshlin made me famous'. That made me worry. Especially as a parent.”
He revealed more information that had Judge Nathan Erasmus raise his eyebrows.
With the community baying for her blood, Sebola said they got accommodation for Kelly in Vredenburg before she met with Cele.
But Sebola said: “She didn't like it because her boyfriend could not go with her. We then got her accommodation in Diazville, from a member of the community, where she could stay with her boyfriend.
“We had to have members stationed outside for safety because the community was angry.”
When asked about Kelly's other children, Sebola said: “The children were not with her. She never asked for accommodation for her children.”
Judge Erasmus sought clarity and asked: 'So, there was no concern or request to give her other two kids [aged 11 and two] with her but her boyfriend?"
Sebola responded: “Correct”.
Afterwards, an inspection in loco was conducted in Middelpos.
The judge, legal counsels and accused were in attendance. The inspection started at Joshlin's home, and from there the judge was taken to various locations within the area to emphasise testimony already given to the court.