Joint operation consisting of SAPS, SA Navy and CoCT continues search for Joshlin Smith
A massive joint operation search including the South African Police Service, the SA Navy, and the City of Cape Town is underway in Saldanha Bay, where six-year-old Joshlin Smith has now been missing for 14 days.
Residents around Middelpos in the Northern Cape gather on 27 February 2024 to search for six-year-old Joshlin Smith, who went missing eight days ago. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - A massive joint operation search including the South African Police Service (SAPS), the SA Navy, and the City of Cape Town is underway in Saldanha Bay, where six-year-old Joshlin Smith has now been missing for 14 days.
Saldanha Bay Mayor Andre Truter said the coordinated search comes after blood-stained items were found in an open field over the weekend.
READ: Missing Children calls for calm after blood-stained clothing found during Joshlin Smith search
Smith, who was left in the care of her mother's boyfriend Jacquin Appollis went missing from her family home in Middelpos two weeks ago.
Truter said the two sets of items - blood-stained clothing and a knife were found during searches on Saturday night.
"There were two scenes - one with clothes which haven't shown to be accurate. It doesn't fit the description, and a knife and material with blood on was found on a second scene, and that is being tested by forensics."
Truter said while they await the result of forensic tests, more than 600 officers gathered to search for the little girl on Monday.