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The case centres around the horrific events in Ngobozana Village in September 2024, when 18 people were gunned down in a brutal attack that sent shockwaves through the community.
Authorities allege that Mzukisi Ndamase, the suspected mastermind behind the massacre, orchestrated the killings from behind bars. The trial is expected to shed light on how some inmates continue to exercise influence and coordinate violent crimes outside prison walls.
Now on its third day, the trial has already experienced several setbacks. The latest delay has further strained those involved in the case, especially key witnesses who say the drawn-out process is only deepening their trauma and anxiety.
As the legal proceedings continue, many are hoping for justice and closure—but for now, frustration and uncertainty still linger in the courtroom.
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What happened behind closed doors was unspeakable. But she found the strength to speak.
Years later, her bravery brought justice. A court sentenced her father to life in prison, ensuring he would never again harm her—or any other child. It was the end of a long and painful journey that began with a little girl choosing to tell the truth, even when it was terrifying.
He had tried to hide what he did. He cleaned her wounds in silence. He lied to police. He blamed someone else. But the truth, no matter how painful, has a way of pushing through.
And when that truth came out, it came with strength: her words, her courage, her pain laid bare in a courtroom that listened—really listened.
The judge didn’t just deliver a sentence. They delivered a message: that a father’s role is to protect, not destroy. That betrayal this deep cannot go unanswered.
But the most powerful person in that courtroom wasn’t wearing a robe or standing at the prosecutor’s table. It was a child who survived the unthinkable and still found the courage to speak.
Support teams are now walking beside her as she begins the long process of healing—emotionally, physically, spiritually. They’re helping her reclaim her voice, her worth, her sense of safety.
This case is not just about justice—it’s about what happens when children are believed. When families choose not to look away. When the system works to protect the vulnerable, not silence them.
To the young girl at the center of this heartbreaking story: your bravery is unforgettable. You are more than what happened to you. You are seen. You are believed. And because you spoke up, the world is a little bit safer.
Let this be a reminder to us all—listen to children. Believe them. Protect them. And never stop fighting for a world where no child has to survive what she did.
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Joshlin, just six years old, vanished from her home in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, on February 19, 2024. That night, her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, told police she had left Joshlin in the care of her boyfriend, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, while she went to work. But within days, Kelly, Appollis, and their friend Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn were arrested—accused of something that shocked the entire country: kidnapping and human trafficking.
The unimaginable was confirmed weeks later in court. Witnesses testified, including Lourentia “Renz” Lombaard, who admitted being part of a plan to sell Joshlin to a traditional healer—a sangoma—for R20,000. On May 2, Kelly, Appollis, and Van Rhyn were found guilty. They were sentenced to life in prison, with an additional 10 years for kidnapping, to run concurrently.
Judge Nathan Erasmus didn’t mince words.
“They showed no remorse. While the community searched, while a child was missing, they laughed, they celebrated,” he said. “They betrayed the trust Joshlin had in them—especially you, Ms. Smith, as her mother.”
For José Emke, that betrayal cuts deepest.
“The sentencing is bittersweet,” he said outside court. “I’m relieved they won’t hurt another child. But I’m heartbroken, because I still don’t know where my little girl is.”
José has another daughter with Kelly—a younger child now caught in the aftermath of a nightmare.
“She asks me every day: ‘Where is my sister?’ And I have no answer. That’s what tears me apart. I want to protect her, but how do I explain something like this to a child?”
Despite the horrific details that emerged during the trial, José still believes Joshlin is alive.
“She’s young. She still has a whole life to live. I feel she’s out there somewhere. I just can’t rest until I know where she is.”
His questions are many—but one looms larger than the rest.
“Why did Kelly wait until I was gone to do this? I was only in the Northern Cape for a short while. I didn’t abandon my child. I didn’t walk away. So why, when my back was turned, did she choose this path?”
José said he recently received a call from Joshlin’s godmother, Natasha Andrews. She told him Kelly wanted to speak to their younger daughter.
“I said no. Not until I know the truth. Not until I hear it from Kelly’s own mouth. Until then, I won’t let her near our child. Kelly is dangerous. She’s manipulative. I believe she planned this. She set it in motion. And she still hasn’t told the full story.”
Police remain committed to finding Joshlin. Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, promised the search would not stop.
“We are working around the clock. We’re even collaborating with Interpol. We will not give up until we know what happened to Joshlin—and where she is.”
Child advocacy group Women and Men Against Child Abuse welcomed the life sentences but said more must be done.
“Joshlin was just six when she was sold like livestock. The mother’s involvement is what truly horrifies us. How does a mother even consider this? There are still too many unanswered questions. Someone paid for that child. And someone took her.”
As Child Protection Week begins in South Africa, the case of Joshlin Smith has become a chilling reminder of the dangers children face—even from those meant to protect them.
José Emke is now just a father searching for the truth.
“My message to Kelly is simple,” he said, pausing as emotion caught in his throat. “I just want to hear the truth—from her mouth.”
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