Key Points
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Childhood trauma may have influenced Monique Kekana’s actions.
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Community remains shaken by Joshlin Smith’s unresolved disappearance.
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TEARS Foundation urges mental health support for trauma survivors.
The disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith in February 2024 has not only devastated her family but reignited long-buried pain for others in the community.
When Monique Kekana, 27, allegedly set fire to the shack where Joshlin once lived, her actions shocked Saldanha Bay residents.
However, her history sheds light on a possible emotional trigger.
Monique was only 13 when her cousin, Monteshca Kekana, disappeared under similar circumstances in 2009.
Monteshca was last seen walking toward Tabakbaai beach with Cecil Kockrell, who later confessed to rape and strangulation. Her body was never found.
The memory of that traumatic event may have overwhelmed Monique after hearing the guilty verdict in Joshlin’s case.
Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, and a friend were convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking. Hours later, Monique allegedly torched the shack.
Community grapples with childhood trauma and missing children
The emotional fallout has been severe. Community member Patricia “Patty” Jacobs recalled how Monteshca’s disappearance devastated their family.
Her mother died in a car accident, and her grandmother passed away from cancer—both never saw justice.
According to Patty, Monique likely internalized that trauma. Witnessing another child vanish without answers likely reignited her pain.
Many in the community echoed this sentiment, feeling the injustice of not finding Monteshca and the fear of another child gone without closure.
Celeste Louw of the TEARS Foundation said Monique’s action, while criminal, reflects unhealed trauma.
“That kind of grief, suppressed for over a decade, can erupt when triggered,” Louw said. “But it does not excuse the crime.”
Support needed for survivors of unresolved trauma
Louw emphasized the need for mental health resources in underserved communities. “While Monique must face the legal consequences of her actions, she also needs emotional support and counseling,” she said.
TEARS Foundation has urged anyone grappling with past trauma to seek help. Their toll-free hotline (08000 TEARS or USSD 1347355#) remains available 24/7 nationwide for emotional support.
The tragedy of Joshlin Smith’s case extends beyond her disappearance. It has reopened old wounds, reminded a community of past failures, and highlighted the urgent need for mental health support.
The pain of childhood trauma and missing children continues to haunt those left behind—often in silence.
