NGO Founder Urges Kelly Smith to Reveal Joslin’s Location, Says Little Girl’s Mother Needs to Talk

• Veranique Williams urged Kelly Smith to reveal the whereabouts of Joslin ahead of the sentencing
• Kelly, Jacquin "Boeta" Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn were found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking
• Williams argued that there would be no justice for her unless the community actually knew what happened to her

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

WESTERN CAPE - The founder of a non-governmental organisation in Mitchells Plain has urged Kelly Smith to reveal Joslin's whereabouts.

Veranique Williams made the appeal as Kelly, Jacquin Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn await sentencing in the trial of the missing Middelpos youngsters.

The trio were found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping after little Joslin went missing on 19 February 2024 and was never seen again.

Williams wants Kelly to talk

Speaking ahead of the upcoming sentencing, which will be held on 27 May in Saldanha Bay, Williams stated that there would be no justice for Joslin until her mother shed light on her whereabouts.

Williams, the founder of the Mitchells Plain-based Faith and Hope Missing Persons organisation, said that Kelly needed to talk.

"I agree fully with the community when they say justice will not be served by not finding Joslin. I think that we first need to find Joslin before justice can be served. Kelly needs to talk and tell us where her child is. I assume she knows where her child is," she said.

State to call human trafficking experts

With the trio found guilty of having sold the child, but no concrete evidence provided for who she was sold to, all eyes turn to sentencing to see how long they will spend behind bars.

The State also plans to call human trafficking experts to testify during sentencing to secure a harsher sentence.

Briefly News spoke to a Private Investigator who has dealt with human trafficking cases. Haroon Safer from SIN International noted with concern how often young girls were being trafficked. He added that many cases were even done out in the open, with victims sometimes ending up in Johannesburg.

What you need to know about the Joslin Smith trial

• Lourencia Lombaard testified that a sangoma wanted Joslin for her eyes and skin.
• Advocate Rinesh Sivnarain accused Lombaard of being the mastermind behind Joslin’s disappearance.
• Gayton McKenzie accused the Saldanha Bay Mayor of being involved in Joslin Smith’s disappearance.
• Appollis detailed how police allegedly tortured him while he was at the Sea Border offices.
• One of the defence lawyers alleged that police told van Rhyn and Appollis what to say in their statements.
• Judge Nathan Erasmus ruled that statements made by Appollis and van Rhyn may be admitted as evidence.
• Kelly and her two co-accused were found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping.

Kelly Smith’s Middelpos home burnt

Briefly News reported that Kelly’s Saldanha Bay shack was set alight on Friday, 2 May 2025.

The place where she resided with her kids and Boeta was burnt hours after she was found guilty in court.

One woman was arrested in connection with the fire, as community members took matters into their own hands.

Source: Briefly News