Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-03-18 i Daily Voice

JOSHLIN Smith was wanted for her “skin and green eyes”, the Western Cape High Court in Middelpos heard yesterday. The chilling claim was made by former accused-turned-State-witness Lourentia “Renz” Lombaard, as she took the stand for the third day in a row following explosive testimony last Thursday and Friday. Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn and Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith are on trial in Saldanha Bay and face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking after disappearance of the then-six-year-old on 19 February 2024. Last week, the court heard from Renz how Kelly had sold her daughter for R20 000 and that Kelly had told her about the deal, offering her R1 000 for her silence. Lombaard said she saw Kelly the Friday following Joshlin’s disappearance. She saw Kelly walking…

Swallowed “Further investigation revealed that the woman had also ingested drug pellets. She is currently in hospital in an attempt to remove the swallowed drugs.” The woman is expected to appear before the Bellville Magistrates Court today on drug trafficking charges. The Hawks commended the collaborative efforts of SANEB, Border Police, Customs, Home Affairs, and forensic experts in securing the arrest. This brings the total of drug mules from Brazil intercepted at South African airports to close to two dozen since September last year. Mules have been known to swallow pellets of drugs, which puts their lives in danger. Last October deputy national police commissioner, Lieutenant- General Tebello Mosikili, said: “It is risky to swallow the tablets. There are strong possibilities of a loss of life.”…

Resigned Soldaat then raped the girl, who later informed her mother of what had happened. He also resigned from the police service in 2017. IPID previously indicated that Soldaat was granted bail while facing trial. Soldaat is one of more than five police officers in the Western Cape who are accused of rape. Earlier this month, two Mooreesburg officers alleged to have raped and kidnapped a woman who they offered a lift on a farm in Mooreesburg were granted R2 000 bail – and are facing six counts of rape. In January, Constable Naveron Jacobs allegedly raped a female prisoner in the Blue Downs Magistrates Court holding cells. In November, Constable Siyabonga Mbane, stationed at Mfuleni Police station was arrested followed by another on Christmas Day in Malmesbury.…