kidnapping triallatest news & developments
Sergeant Dawid Fortuin was being cross-examined by attorney Nobahle Mkabayi, acting for accused two, Steveno van Rhyn

No standing order to record witness statements, court hears in Joslin Smith kidnapping trial

Sergeant Dawid Fortuin was being cross-examined by attorney Nobahle Mkabayi, acting for accused two, Steveno van Rhyn

  • Des Erasmus
4 min read
Judge Nathan Erasmus.

Judge condemns cyberbullying as Joslin Smith kidnapping trial enters fifth week

Judge Nathan Erasmus said online harassment threatened trust in South Africa’s justice system and caused ‘suspicion’

  • Des Erasmus
5 min read
Lourentia “Rens” Lombaard, the accused-turned-state-witness.

Star witness continues to unravel on the stand in Joslin Smith trial

Lourentia Lombaard irks the judge with her ‘assumptions’, while Kelly Smith is again portrayed as a callous mother

  • Des Erasmus
6 min read
Kelly Smith, the mother of Joslin Smith.

Joslin Smith was wanted by sangoma for her ‘eyes and skin’

State witness Lourentia Lombaard continued her testimony on Monday, sharing chilling details in the kidnapping and human trafficking trial

  • Des Erasmus
5 min read
Kelly Smith, mother of missing girl Joslin Smith, takes notes during the trial on Tuesday.

Kelly Smith told teacher Joslin was kidnapped by Nigerians

A ‘Nigerian man’ allegedly told Smith that the child was in a container, on a boat, heading for West Africa, the court heard

  • Des Erasmus
6 min read
Kelly Smith, mother of missing girl Joslin Smith, takes notes during the trial on Tuesday.

Kelly Smith threatened to stab her son in 2016, social worker tells court

Siliziwe Mbambo also said that according to the case file, the mother of Joshlin Smith threatened to assault her own grandmother

  • Des Erasmus
5 min read
Kelly Smith takes notes during the kidnapping and human trafficking trial on Thursday.

Kelly Smith brought to tears during former employer’s testimony

The mother of Joslin wept as her former employer, Carlyn Zeegers, described her as a ‘good mother’ in the kidnapping and human trafficking trial

  • Des Erasmus
5 min read