Lerato Mbhiza
Charges against one of the accused, Phumza Sigaqa, who was alleged to be a sangoma, have been withdrawn after all four accused in the disappearance of Joshlin Smith, made their second appearance at the Vredenburg Magistrates Court.
On Wednesday, Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin Appollis, Steveno Dumaizio van Rhyn and Sigaqa appeared in court and the State dropped charges Sigaqa and requested the matter to be postponed until 13 May for further investigations.
Smith faces charges of kidnapping and human trafficking related to her daughter’s disappearance. She, Appollis and van Rhyn have abandoned their bail application and will remain in custody until the matter reconvenes in court.
As investigations into the case are still in its early stages, the State is still awaiting cellphone data analysis, the court heard.
Information as to where Joshlin may be, is still being followed up on and she still has not been found.
Ahead of the court proceedings angry Saldanha Bay community members clashed with police outside the Vredenburg Magistrates Court.
Barbed wire barricades have barred community members who showed up in court in large numbers from getting close to the court.
Police fired stun grenades to disperse the rowdy crowds outside the court and who demanded that community representatives be allowed inside the court precinct to follow court proceedings.
On 02 March, blood-stained clothing believed to be that of Joshlin’s was found a few kilometres from the Diazville informal settlement where the child went missing.
INSIDE POLITICS
