Lourentia Lombaard told the court that the missing Joshlin’s mom Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, threatened to kill her boyfriend, who is also accused in the kidnapping case.
On Friday morning, the State witness said the mother picked up a knife after breaking a window of her shack while shouting at Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis.
Lombaard said this as she testified about the day before Joshlin went missing from her Middelpos home on February 19, 2024.
The couple and their friend, Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, were charged with kidnapping and human trafficking. They were arrested a few weeks after the six-year-old went missing.
The former accused, Lombaard, turned State witness a few months after the arrest. She took the stand on Thursday, but the Western Cape High Court sitting at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha Bay adjourned.
“I went to Kelly’s place and I saw a man who drove a bakkie standing with the couple, and they were talking about chickens stolen from a farm.
“They both denied knowing anything about the stolen chickens. The man then asked to go inside their shack, and he came out with a pair of Nike takkies and asked if they belonged to Boet. He confirmed it was his.
“She said the man went to his car with Boeta, and she was alone with Kelly and their children. She said she was going to the farmer’s wife to tell her he was having affairs. She asked me to look after her children. I said to Kelly she must not be too quick to act and wait for Boeta.
“Boeta came back from the bakkie, and I said to Boeta, just keep quiet. Kelly broke a window and cut her wrist.
“She picked up a knife from the house and she went to Boeta, she showed him that she would stab him to death.”
Lombaard said she went home to cook and then went back to the couple’s home when she heard Kelly tell Boeta something about Joshlin.
“I heard Kelly and Boeta that she wanted to tell him something in connection with Joshlin.
“Boeta said he didn’t have time to listen to Kelly’s nonsense.
“She said if Boeta didn’t want to listen to her, she would follow her own head and do what her mind was telling her.
“She then said to Boeta 'there were people looking for Joshlin'.”
Lombaard said Kelly’s cellphone rang, and then she took Joshlin with her.
The trial continues.