
Joshlin Smith: NPA says Lourencia Lombaard should be indemnified from prosecution
Lombaard will hear whether she faces jail time for her role in Joshlin's disappearance in August.
Her testimony proved pivotal to the conviction and sentencing of Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn.
ALSO READ: Court sets aside August dates to hear applications for leave to appeal convictions, sentences of Smith, Appollis & Van Rhyn
Lombaard told the court that she witnessed Smith sell six-year-old Joshlin to a sangoma for R20,000 in February 2024.
She was later arrested along with Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn for her role in Joshlin's disappearance.
Lombaard admitted that she agreed to accept money from Smith to keep quiet about the sale of the child.
She later turned State witness and testified against Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said that the State would argue in Lombaard's favour.
"We believe and we will argue that the court should indemnify her from prosecution."
The matter is set to be heard in the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town on 13 August.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
9 hours ago
- The South African
Cop accused of hiding key evidence in gang-related murder
A police officer was arrested for defeating the ends of justice after allegedly failing to declare a firearm linked to an alleged gang-related murder. Sergeant Myka Constance Shale, attached to the Crime Intelligence Gathering (CIG) unit, was allegedly handed the firearm by an informer. The weapon was reportedly found at the crime scene. Shale appeared at the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court and was granted R4,000 bail on Wednesday, 23 July. According to a police report, the firearm was picked up at the murder scene of 38-year-old Wilfred Casper on Saturday, 12 July, in Marikana. However, after Shale received it, she allegedly failed to hand it in or declare it. Casper was found with multiple stab wounds and other injuries and was declared dead on the scene. Five days later, Ikageng Detectives arrested eight suspects, aged between 27 and 35. It is alleged they are all members of the SVK gang. The eight suspects appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 17 July, on charges of murder and were remanded in custody for a bail application. Shale is expected to appear in court again on Monday, 6 October. North West Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, commended the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU) for their work in the matter. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news

IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Bogus prosecutor charged after defrauding NPA of R1. 1 million using fraudulent law degree
Luthando Nomandindi is facing serious charges after purportedly defrauding the State of more than R1.1 million as a fake prosecutor. A former prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), is facing serious charges after purportedly defrauding the state of more than R1.1 million. Luthando Nomandindi, 33, appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court in the Eastern Cape facing charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering. The charges against Nomandindi stem from his time at Walter Sisulu University (WSU), where he was enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree programme from 2010 to 2016. Despite being registered for six years, Nomandindi failed to satisfy the academic requirements necessary for graduation. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana explained that between January 2010 and December 2016, Nomandindi was enrolled for a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree at Walter Sisulu University, however, he did not meet the graduation criteria. "Despite this, in 2020, Nomandindi apparently submitted a falsified LLB degree certificate and a bogus Legal Education and Development (L.E.A.D) attendance report as part of his application to the NPA's Aspirant Prosecutor Programme, which required a legitimate LLB qualification or proof of final-year status." said Mhlakuvana. Mhlakuvana said based on his fraudulent credentials, in January 2021, Nomandindi was appointed as an Aspirant Prosecutor and later elevated to the position of Public Prosecutor.

IOL News
12 hours ago
- IOL News
Witness claims Phoenix tavern owner sought to frame him in July unrest trial
In an ongoing 2021 July unrest trial, a State witness has told the court that one of the accused wanted to frame him for incitement of public violence. Image: Nomonde Zondi A State witness in the 2021 July unrest trial involving men from Phoenix has told the Durban High Court on Friday that people advised him to leave Phoenix because Tees Tavern owner, Trevor Gopal, wanted to implicate him in the murder and inciting public violence cases in Phoenix. Gopal is on trial with Ravine Naidoo, Tyreece Govender, and Timothy Govender for murder, two counts of attempted murder, malicious damage to property, and public violence. Additionally, Gopal is charged with incitement to commit public violence. The State is alleging that Gopal incited his security guards and members of the public to commit acts of public violence against black Africans visiting Phoenix during the unrest. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Anard Chetty, a State witness, told the court that the people in the community, including Naidoo's wife, told him to leave Phoenix as Gopal wanted him to take the fall for him. 'Do you have names of these people who told you this?' advocate Jimmy Howse SC, representing Gopal, asked. Chetty said it was word on the street, adding that people who told him are those who used to take care of his well-being as he was sleeping at Tees Tavern. He later mentioned that Naidoo's wife was among those people. However, after a long break, Howse told Chetty that Naidoo's wife was called, and she had denied that she told him to leave Phoenix. Howse said there was no evidence against Gopal until Chetty implicated him. 'I can't say I am the only one implicating accused two (Gopal),' Chetty responded. Howse told him that the witness statements of the victims, who were allegedly assaulted by the accused, claim there was an informal roadblock in Phoenix before reaching the Tees Tavern. He said the victims drove straight through it, and a person standing there was hit by the taxi's mirror. He said the cars that Chetty had claimed earlier this week were called by Gopal after a scuffle had broken out in his tavern while the victims were there, and came from that roadblock. Chetty disagreed with him. 'Those were Tees men,' he said. As Howse backed Chetty into a corner about inconsistencies in his witness statements and his evidence-in-chief, Chetty asked him not to put him under pressure. 'Do not put me under pressure. Why should I be under pressure for something I had no hand in? I'm not the criminal here, nor am I somebody running illegal activities,' Chetty said. Judge Mluleki Chithi patiently calmed Chetty down and told him to answer the questions. However, Chetty told Judge Chithi that Howse was playing tricks on him. As the cross-examination continued, Judge Chithi had to warn Chetty not to be disrespectful and to learn to answer questions that were asked. As Chetty got agitated by Howse, he would consistently tell him to stop playing tricks on him and ask him a lot of questions at the same time. During the commission of the offences, Njabulo Allen Dlamini was assaulted, hit with a rock and a hammer on the head. He later died at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital from blunt force head injuries. Nkosikhona Madlala and Sandile Colin Sambo survived after they were also allegedly assaulted and had fuel poured on them while pallets were placed on top of them. All the accused are out on bail. The trial would continue on Monday.