A witness revealed to the Western Cape High Court that she was in the process of adopting missing Joshlin Smith.
Natasha Andrews, who helped raise the Middelpos girl, gave her testimony on Monday during the trial in Saldanha Bay.
Joshlin went missing from her home on 19 February 2024 while in the care of her mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith’s boyfriend Jacquen Appollis.
The couple was arrested along with their friends Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn and Laurentia Lombaard, whose charges were subsequently dropped.
She is the woman whose house in Diazville Kelly and her neighbour Namhla Tinzi visited the night the girl went missing.
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Andrews said that Kelly would leave her child at her home, sometimes for a long period.
“I have taken care of Joshlin since she was a baby. I have known Kelly for over 20 years as our parents attended the same church.
“When Joshlin was still young, she lived with me, and the eldest child lived with her family.
“There wasn’t a specific time she stayed with me; it would be weekends and anytime. The last time she stayed with me was during the December 2023 holidays, and she left a week before the holidays.”
Andrews told the court that she was in the process of adopting Joshlin.
“Joshlin’s parents refused while we were already at the social workers offices.
“I thought I would give her better care because when she was with me, Joshlin was always clean, and her hair would be combed.”
After Andrews, Kelly’s former employer, Carlien Zeegers, testified about how she had helped Joshlin’s mother.
“Everyday they came to my place I would give them something to eat. I would ask her to help me out sometimes.
“Kelly was a good mother to her children; that is all I know about her.”
Kelly sobbed during Zeegers’ testimony, and the court was adjourned for her to compose herself.
