In a bombshell revelation that has sent shockwaves through the courtroom and the nation, key witness Lourentia Lombaard delivered chilling testimony in the ongoing trial of Kelly Smith, the mother accused of selling her daughter, Joslin, to a sangoma. Speaking on 17 March 2025 at the Saldanha Day Multipurpose Centre, where the Western Cape High Court is hearing the case, Lombaard—known by her nickname “Renz”—claimed that Kelly confessed to selling Joslin for her eyes and skin.
According to Lombaard’s testimony, the conversation took place on 23 February 2024, just four days after Joslin vanished from Middelpos. Lombaard stated that Kelly admitted the buyer, a traditional healer, specifically sought Joslin for her unique eyes and skin, adding a sinister dimension to the already harrowing case. The witness further revealed that Kelly allegedly received R20,000 for the sale, a sum Lombaard claimed was intended to ensure her silence about the transaction.
Lombaard, a mother of four and a pivotal figure in the trial, described her long and troubled association with Kelly and her boyfriend, Jacquin Appolis. Having moved from Wolseley to Saldanha Bay in 2017, Lombaard’s life took a tumultuous turn as she fell into drug addiction and became entangled with the accused. “I was there during those dark times,” Lombaard testified, recalling how drug use was rampant in the days leading up to Joslin’s disappearance.
Her testimony comes as the trial enters its third week, with the court grappling with numerous explosive allegations, including claims that Kelly was being paid by an unidentified party to keep quiet about the sale. Lombaard’s statement about the sangoma’s specific desire for Joslin has stunned many, reinforcing the muti theory that has emerged in the case—a theory suggesting the premeditated exploitation of the vulnerable child.
Judge Erasmus, acknowledging time constraints and the availability of witnesses, excused Lombaard from immediate cross-examination. However, the defence is expected to challenge her account in due course. Other witnesses have painted a troubling picture of Kelly’s behavior on the day of Joslin’s disappearance, including admissions of drug use and conflicting accounts of the child’s whereabouts.
As the trial unfolds, the community and the nation are left grappling with chilling questions about the fate of Joslin Smith. The explosive details brought forward by Lombaard continue to cast a long shadow over the proceedings, leaving many to wonder if justice for Joslin will ever be fully served.
This case has not only highlighted the vulnerabilities of children in precarious circumstances but also raised urgent questions about the exploitation of traditional beliefs and practices for criminal purposes. As the trial progresses, the nation watches closely, hoping for answers and accountability in this deeply disturbing case.
