The trial of Joshlin Smith entered its second day at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha on Tuesday, with key testimony from the State’s first witness stirring tension in the courtroom.
On Monday, Constable Yanga Gongotha, who was part of the initial response team when Joshlin went missing, took the stand. His testimony painted a concerning picture of Kelly Smith, Joshlin’s mother, revealing that she appeared more concerned about her boyfriend than her missing child. According to Gongotha, Kelly’s focus during their initial interaction was entirely on her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, rather than the distressing situation surrounding her daughter’s disappearance.
This testimony is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a tense cross-examination on Tuesday. Kelly Smith’s defense counsel, Rinesh Sivnarain, is anticipated to spend a considerable amount of time questioning Gongotha, possibly attempting to mitigate the damage to his client’s reputation. Similarly, Appollis’ lawyer will also cross-examine the witness, hoping to challenge the evidence presented.
However, some drama has already unfolded behind the scenes. Despite Constable Gongotha stating that a name linked to Steveno van Rhyn was mentioned in the early stages of the investigation, he confirmed that van Rhyn had not been a suspect at the time. The absence of a direct connection left Steveno van Rhyn’s lawyer, Nobahle Mkabayi, with no grounds to cross-examine Gongotha. Instead, Mkabayi plans to present a petition requesting that her client be moved from solitary confinement to a communal cell at Malmesbury Prison, a shift she deems necessary for van Rhyn’s welfare.
While the trial is moving forward, Judge Nathan Erasmus voiced his concerns over the pace of the proceedings. He urged the State to have additional witnesses lined up to ensure the case progresses more efficiently. The glitches that marred the first day’s session were acknowledged, but Erasmus expressed confidence that they would be resolved moving forward.
As tensions mount and the court proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how the defense teams will handle the mounting evidence against their clients. The courtroom atmosphere is charged, and all eyes are on how the trial will develop as more witnesses are expected to testify in the days to come.
