During the ongoing trial of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith, State witness Lourentia Lombaard broke down when questioned about her boyfriend, Ayanda Litoni leaving Middelpos shortly after Joshlin’s disappearance.
She revealed to the Western Cape High Court, sitting in White City Multipurpose Centre, that she had been threatened and tortured during questioning.
Joshlin went missing on February 19, 2024, from her Diazville home.
Lombaard, who was arrested alongside the child’s mother, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, testified that she had been placed in a safe house for three weeks before her arrest.
She recounted an incident in March when a group of armed individuals in balaclavas and bomber jackets stormed the safe house, demanding to know Joshlin’s whereabouts.
Lombaard said they wrapped her in blankets, forced her to retrace her steps, and threatened to shoot her if she tried to flee.
“I left my children with Ayanda and searched with them for Joshlin. I wanted to run, but they said they would shoot me if I did. They showed me a firearm,” she testified.
According to Lombaard, the group drove her to a bushy area in Middelpos, where they continued their interrogation. She stated that they never went to the area where police were also searching.
After the ordeal, she was transferred into another vehicle and eventually dropped off. Lombaard admitted she couldn’t recall the exact date of the assault.
Van Rhyn’s lawyer Nobahle Mkabayi said that the reason there were many discrepancies in Lombaard's testimony was because she was lying.
She asked Lombaard about her visit to Smith’s home on Sunday as Lombaard had said that she had been at the shack to ask Smith for food.
Mkabayi said she had not mentioned that she had received any food at her friend’s house.
Lombaard’s history of drug use also came under scrutiny. She was questioned about her drug use before and during the events leading to Joshlin’s disappearance.
Under cross-examination, she admitted to being under the influence of drugs before her arrest and acknowledged that this could have impacted her initial statements to the police.
She explained that she had used tik and mandrax. She detailed the effects of the use of mandrax, saying that the drugs would remain in her system for about two weeks.
Lombaard said she is no longer on drugs.
Mkabayi asked where her children were when she used drugs and Lombaard said they would be present.
She also told the court that she started doing drugs at the age of 16.
The trial continues.
Cape Times