Joshlin Smith trial: Lourencia Lombaard, 2 co-accused apply for leave to appeal conviction, sentences
This is after the court accepted the State’s version, that then six-year-old Joshlin Smith was sold to a sangoma in Saldanha Bay in February last year.
Lourencia Lombard at Western Cape High Court on Tuesday 12 August 2025 Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN.
CAPE TOWN – A mother and two others convicted of selling her daughter are applying for leave to appeal their convictions and sentences.
Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and his friend Steveno van Rhyn were handed life sentences for human trafficking in May.
This is after the court accepted the State’s version, that then six-year-old Joshlin Smith was sold to a sangoma in Saldanha Bay in February last year.
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The girl is still missing.
The matter was adjourned for the day and continues in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, former accused-turned-State witness, Lourencia Lombaard, was also in court to hear the argument around whether she should be granted indemnity.
Lombaard had testified to witnessing Smith sell the child for R20,000 in February 2024.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Eric Ntabazalila explained: “We can confirm that arguments began this morning in the application for leave to appeal involving the accused in the Joshlin Smith matter, as well as the Section 204 witness issue involving Ms Lourencia Lombaard. The case has been postponed to tomorrow morning [Wednesday] and judgement is expected to be delivered tomorrow morning on both matters."