The dramatic Joslin Smith trafficking trial has kept South Africa glued to their screens, and now we’re at a crucial turning point.
The spotlight has shifted to Laurentia Lombaard, the state witness whose fate could swing between freedom or prison.
This special hearing is currently underway in the Western Cape High Court, and everyone’s waiting to see what happens next.
Who Is Laurentia Lombaard and Why Is She Important?
Laurentia is a former accused who decided to switch sides and become a key state witness—officially called a State 204 witness.
Under oath, she made serious claims: that Joslin Smith’s mother, Kelly Smith, sold her own daughter to a sangoma (a traditional healer) for R20,000.
This shocking allegation has been central to the case and has put Laurentia right in the middle of the drama.
The Sentencing of Kelly Smith and Her Accomplices
Last week was a major development: Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn were all sentenced to life in prison for trafficking and kidnapping Joslin Smith.
They now have 14 days to file an appeal if they choose to challenge this sentence.
This ruling has added a new layer of tension to the ongoing legal battle.
What’s Next for Laurentia Lombaard?
According to Zelda Swanepoel, the prosecutor from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Judge Nathan Erasmus of the Western Cape High Court will be hearing more evidence and arguments from both sides about Laurentia’s role as a state witness.
This separate hearing will determine whether Laurentia receives indemnity (legal protection) or faces her own prison sentence.
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