Police disperse PA and other rubberneckers at trial for the accused in Joslin Smith case
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Tensions flared outside the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court as police clashed with demonstrators ahead of the court appearance of four suspects linked to the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith.
Amidst a heavy police presence, hundreds of protesters gathered demanding access to the court, only to be barricaded behind a barbed wire fence. Some individuals attempted to breach the barrier, leading to confrontations with law enforcement.
The situation escalated when local Patriotic Alliance leader Ashley Sauls, known as “Oom Biza,” was reportedly denied entry, sparking further outrage. Oom Biza claimed to have official documents entitling his access on behalf of the party, but police prevented his entry, leading to chants from protesters demanding his admittance.
Inside the court, Joshlin’s mother, Racquel Chantel Smith, 33, her boyfriend Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, 31, Steveno van Rhyn, and Phumza Sigaqa face charges of human trafficking and kidnapping in connection with the case. The whereabouts of Joshlin, who went missing on February 19, remain unknown.
The leading theory at present is that the girl was sold for muti.
The proceedings, scheduled to begin at 10:30 am, faced delays due to transportation issues involving Kelly’s transfer from Pollsmoor prison in Cape Town. The state has announced its intention to oppose bail for the accused.
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