Family react to life sentences

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Family members and the community of Joslin Smith have reacted to the life sentences imposed on convicted traffickers Kelly Smith, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn.�

But for the grieving grandmothers, there is nothing that can ease their pain of not seeing their granddaughter, who disappeared on 19 February 2024 from her home in Diazville, Saldanha Bay.

JOSLIN’S GRANDMOTHERS REACT TO LIFE SENTENCES

On Thursday, Judge Nathan Erasmus delivered his sentencing verdict to Kelly Smith, Jacquin Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn in the Saldanha Bay Multipurpose Centre.

Erasmus sentenced the trio to life in prison for child trafficking and imposed a ten-year sentence for kidnapping. The sentences will run concurrently.

While there were shouts of joy from the community that the offenders were given the maximum sentence, Joslin Smith’s grandmothers were heartsore that there was no closure about the missing girl.

Kelly’s mother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, told the media after the hearing, ” I don’t feel that any sentence that they got will bring my grandchild back.

“We are broken, because the children are not together…There is no closure because she [Joslin] is still missing”.

Kelly’s mom added that her daughter “deserved” the sentence and had to “lie in her bed”.

Loretta Yon, the paternal grandmother of Joslin, revealed that she had visited the holding cells and had begged Kelly to reveal what happened to the little girl. Kelly maintained that she did not know what happened to her daughter.

Josh Emke, Joslin’s father, was too emotional to speak about the sentencing, adding that it was “too soon.”

JUSTICE, WITHOUT CLOSURE?

Meanwhile, Saldanha Bay councillor Veronique Pretorius stated that she was “disappointed” in the sentencing.

“Justice has not been served, where is Joslin? We sit with so many questions that are not answered. A lot of people’s names were mentioned, but they have not spoken [to authorities]”.