JOSHLIN SMITH TRIO TO BE ADDED ON CHILD PROTECTION REGISTER

•  ⁠Joshlin Smith’s mother, Kelly Smith, will be added onto the Child Protection Register along with her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and friend, Steveno van Rhyn – at a time when the national Child Protection Month comes to a close.
• ⁠The three were sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping following the disappearance of the six-year-old child.
• The minister of social development, Sisisi Tolashe, welcomed the judge’s order to add the trio’s name to the register, adding the sentencing reaffirmed the important role the justice system plays in upholding the rights of children.

The minister of social development, Sisisi Tolashe, has welcomed the life imprisonment sentence meted out by the Western Cape Division of the High Court to three individuals who were convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping six-year-old Joshlin Smith.

Minister Tolashe will add the trio on the Child Protection Register as directed by the court.

The trio of Joshlin’s own mother, Kelly Smith, Smith’s boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn were sentenced on 29 May 2025, a year after her disappearance.

At the time she vanished, on 19 February 2024, in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, the young girl was in the care of Appollis. Despite a massive, ongoing search, the child has not been found.

In addition to the sentence, Minister Tolashe welcomed Judge Nathan Erasmus’s order that the trio’s names be added to the national Child Protection Register. The register comprises of two parts: Part A contains the names of children in need of care and protection, while Part B contains the names of people who have been found unsuitable to work with children.

To date, 26 852 children are registered in Part A, while 12 728 people have been registered in Part B as unsuitable to work with children.

Minister Tolashe has committed to ensuring the names of the convicted kidnappers and child traffickers, in this and other child abuse cases, will appear on the Child Protection Register immediately.

The sentencing of the Joshlin Smith trio coincides with the conclusion of Child Protection Month, which is held annually in May to raise public awareness about child abuse, neglect, and exploitation, as well as to mobilise for collective action and strengthen the protection of children in South Africa.

The annual campaign highlights the need for all key sectors of society, government, individuals, community-based organisations, private sector, and faith-based organisations to work together and engage in conversations and activities that promote the safety and well-being of all children.

“The harrowing events surrounding the disappearance of the innocent child has devastated us and every South African who is concerned about the safety of our children, especially when you consider that Joshlin’s own mother was involved in this heinous crime,” Minister Tolashe said.

“Yesterday’s sentencing reaffirms the important role that our justice system should play in upholding the rights of children and strengthening our child protection measures,” the minister added.

“At the same time, this sad story highlights the need to build supportive systems and services for parents and caregivers of children at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation.”

In the wake of Joshlin’s disappearance, the residents of Middelpos and the surrounding communities in Saldanha Bay united in their search for her and in their commitment to ensure justice is served. This is a poignant reminder that families and communities are the first line of defence in the child protection system.

“I take this opportunity to thank the people of Middelpos in Saldanha Bay, who have shown great courage since day one of Joshlin’s disappearance,” Minister Tolashe said.

“We need the same unity of purpose not only in Middelpos, but throughout South Africa to protect our children. We all have a shared responsibility to protect our children,” the minister added.

“As government, we cannot do this without the support of our communities. By standing together, we can ensure that no child ever suffers the same fate, which I believe could have been prevented.”

The case also showed the important role social workers play in making sure child abusers are convicted. The probation officer – a social worker – provided an exceptional report to the court, assisting in the maximum life imprisonment being imposed.

Child Protection Month is part of the national 365 Days Child Protection Programme of Action, which is aimed at curbing all forms of violence against children in South Africa.

The latest quarterly crime statistics released by Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on 23 May 2025 paint a grim picture that highlights the need to intensify child protection measures.

To bolster ongoing efforts, Cabinet has approved a 90-Day Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Acceleration Programme.

Minister Tolashe encourages communities to report any suspected child abuse, including child neglect and child trafficking, by calling the Gender Based Violence Command Centre on 0800 428 428. The command centre operates 24 hours a day.