CAPE TOWN - New information regarding Racquel 'Kelly' Smith has emerged.
She is 6-year-old Joshlin Smith's mother. It is alleged that Smith and her co-accused had been planning to sell the child since August 2023. The goal was to profit from her sale. Smith has been missing since 19 February.
This was revealed in court documents after the fourth suspect, Laurentia Lombaard, turned state witness. When 10-year-old Montescha Kekana vanished without a trace in 200, the small town of Saldanha Bay was shocked.
In that particular case, a family friend admitted to killing her and tossing her body in the ocean. History seemed to be repeating itself in the Joshlin Smith case. The town launched a desperate search for the grade one pupil and a missing person's case would officially be opened on 20 February.
READ: Accused no.4 in Joshlin Smith case turns state witness
A week later, Kelly's boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, would plead his innocence. Following unsuccessful leads, police announced a scaled-down search on February 27. However, Joshlin's father, Jose Emke and the community believed that Kelly and her friends were hiding something.
Kelly, Boeta, Steveno van Rhyn and Phumza Sigaqa were arrested in March, although Sigaqa was freed shortly after due to lack of evidence. The final addition to the case would be Lombaard.
READ: Missing children | Joshlin Smith inspires search volunteers
Lombaard, 8 months later, surprised her friends by turning state witness. According to court documents the sale took place around January or February 2024. After meeting Joshlin's buyer on 18 February, Kelly turned to her friend to negotiate how much money they would share.
On the day Joshlin went missing, Kelly left with her and returned later that evening alleging her child was missing and even assisted in the opening of a missing person report on 20 February.
With Lombaard turning state witness the community hopes she can lead officials to Joshlin's location. Kelly, Boeta, Steveno will return to court in January to answer kidnapping and trafficking charges.