KEY POINTS
- Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn have been given life sentences for helping to traffic Joshlin Smith.
- The judge said the trio did not show remorse and decided that drugs were not a reason for them.
- Officials have vowed to look for Joshlin and the accused will face national monitoring on the Child Protection Register.
On Thursday, Judge Nathan Erasmus handed life sentences to Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Kelly Smith over their parts in the Joshlin Smith human trafficking case, leaving a few questions about the case still unsolved.
In the jam-packed Western Cape High Court, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile of the Western Cape Police and Anroux Marais, the Community Safety MEC, joined dozens of followers who attended the tense hearing.
He said that although the court reviewed every aspect, there were no things that could justify granting leniency. The only option for this case, he explained, is for the prisoner to be sent to jail.
The judge gave the harsh sentence because the accused showed no remorse
Judge Erasmus told the court he found the accused’s actions unjust and that they seemed unconcerned during the proceedings. He blamed Boeta, as the father of two, for not acting as a parent to Joshlin. The judge said that Van Rhyn was a danger to society because he had not profited from past opportunities for rehabilitation.
To Kelly Smith, Joshlin’s mother, the judge said, “You even blame your parents for your actions.” Ever since February 19, 2024, there has been a clear lack of concern you’ve expressed.
The public prosecutor said none of the accused had admitted fault or felt regret. Even though the court knew the group had taken drugs before the crime, Erasmus stated this was not a sufficient reason, as they had more than enough time to stop.
Many react with sadness, anger and desire for answers even with the sentence of Kelly Smith and Co-Accused
His father, Jose Emke, told IOL that he was unhappy with what the court decided. I am not happy since we do not know where Joshlin is. People are wondering why Kelly cannot explain what has happened to everyone.
The prosecution proposed adding all three of them to the National Child Protection Register, a list of people unqualified to work with children. Judge Erasmus refused the defence permission for an appeal and has instructed the parties to take time to think about their next moves.
SAPS will continue to look for Joshlin
Speaking after the sentencing, Western Cape Police Commissioner Patekile acknowledged the dedication and high standard of work from the SAPS investigators. He explained that the investigation for Joshlin’s whereabouts is still ongoing.
“Even though this will not take away her loss, reaching this outcome allows people to find some closure and demonstrates that vulnerable people have somebody who will fight for them,” added Patekile.
