Former co-accused turn State witness in the Joshlin Smith trial has testified that the child's mother sold her to a sangoma for R20 000.

Lourentia Lombaard is testifying in the Western Cape High Court revealed chilling details of the sale of missing Joshlin Smith more than a year ago.

Lombard testified that Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith told her about it soon after the deal was finalised on 18 February 2024 - the day before Joshlin was taken.

Lombaard told the court, which is sitting in the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay, that Kelly offered her money.

The mother is on trial with her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis and Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn for kidnapping and human trafficking.

“I watched Kelly walk to a white VW Polo. The windows were not too dark. A black woman came out of the car and spoke to Kelly and then gave her something and Kelly put it in her pants, on the front side.

“They kept talking and the woman left them. Kelly and Joshlin walked away from the car and then they went back to Kelly’s house. I went to my house. I didn’t stay long at my house.

“I went back to Kelly’s house and stood outside the gate. Kelly and Boeta didn’t know I was standing there. I was curious what she was going to tell Boeta.

“She showed Boeta money, she told him it was R20 000 and Boeta asked what she was going to do with it. I went to the shack and asked Kelly what was going on.

"She said she did something shitty, and I asked what she meant and I she said 'I sold my child to a sangoma'.

"I asked her why, she said she needed the money and was going through hardship."

She further testified that Kelly offered her hush money.

“She said she was going to give R1 000, Steveno R1 200 and the other money will be shared amongst herself and Boeta.

"She said she would give me money to keep quiet because we knew about the plan.

“I never received any money from Kelly.

“I asked her how she was going to take Joshlin away and she would make a plan.”

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za

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