Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has provided acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia with new information linking additional people to the disappearance of Joshlin Smith. This comes amid a renewed search in Saldanha that was called off on Friday. McKenzie shared details during a visit to the missing girl's school.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie stated that he has passed new information to acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia regarding the disappearance of Joshlin Smith. The details link several people to the case, according to McKenzie.
The information was forwarded to National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola. Speaking at Joshlin's school in Saldanha on the Cape West Coast, McKenzie said, “The minister sent it to the national commissioner Fannie Masemola. And I can tell you I sit next to the minister in Cabinet. He’s not going to sweep things under the carpet. At this stage I’m willing to say that information points to more people being involved in Joshlin Smith’s disappearance, and that’s all I’m going to say at this point.”
Joshlin Smith, who was six years old at the time, vanished two years ago. Her mother Kelly Smith, then-boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno Van Rhyn are serving life sentences for human trafficking and kidnapping related to the incident.
This Friday marked the second day of a renewed search in Saldanha, prompted by a tip-off from a member of the public. Police called off the operation without success.
McKenzie made the comments during a visit to open a sports facility at the school.
