Laurentia “Renz” Lombaard, the key witness in the Joslin Smith case, testified that those who took the girl wanted her for her eyes and skin.
She provided this testimony in the Western Cape High Court, held at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha Bay on Monday, 17 March.
Joslin’s mum, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Rowhan Apollis, and friend Steveno Dumaizio Duwayne Van Rhyn are charged with contravening the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act. They have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
While on the witness stand, Lombaard, a former accused turned state witness, said she asked Kelly why people wanted her child.
“She said the person searching for Joslin wanted her for her eyes and skin,” said Lombaard.
Lombaard also claimed that Kelly received R20 000 for Joslin and promised Lombaard R1 000 to keep quiet. One thousand two hundred was allegedly supposed to be given to Van Rhyn, who was aware of the child’s sale.
Lombaard claimed she never followed up on the money, and Kelly never gave it to her. In her presence, Kelly showed Apollis some money and said: “Here is the money the sangoma gave me.”
She claimed that Kelly then turned to her and admitted: “Renz, I started a bad thing. I have now sold my child to a sangoma.”
Kelly’s sister, Mickeyla Daniels, a police officer in Upington in the Northern Cape, claimed that when she contacted Kelly about the missing kid, she was assured Joslin would be found.
Later, Kelly said: “My child is here in the informal settlement, and someone wants to sell my child, but Saldanha is currently a hotspot.”
When Mickeyla allegedly asked more questions, Kelly responded that she had already answered them for the police.
“I know you’re a police officer, but I’m not going to answer these questions again.”
Lombaard claimed she confronted Kelly, questioning why she would sell her kid for money. Kelly responded that she needed money and was suffering.
When the witness insisted on condemning Kelly’s actions, Kelly allegedly told her: “It’s done, and I can’t do anything about it.”
