Gayton McKenzie reacts to Kelly Smith's weight gain

Gayton McKenzie reacts to Kelly Smith’s weight gain

Gayton McKenzie has shared his thoughts on Kelly Smith – mother of missing girl Joslin Smith – including her weight gain behind bars.

gayton mckenzie, joslin smith , kelly smith, weight gain

Gayton McKenzie has spoken out about Kelly Smith, the mother of missing girl, Joslin Smith. Images via Facebook: @mckenzie.gayton

Gayton McKenzie has shared his strong opinions on Kelly Smith, the mother of the missing Saldanda Bay girl, Joslin Smith. And that includes comments about her weight gain whilst behind bars.

The mother of three – who miscarried her unborn baby whilst in police custody – is currently being remanded at Pollsmoor Prison in the Western Cape.

Kelly, her partner, Jacquin “Boeta” Apollis, and a male friend, Steveno van Rhyn, are on trial over charges of child trafficking and kidnapping.

They are accused of selling the child – who disappeared on 19 February 2024 – to finance their drug habit.

GAYTON MCKENZIE REACTS TO KELLY SMITH ON TRIAL, WEIGHT GAIN

In a Facebook post on Monday, 3 March, Gayton McKenzie commented on the weight gain of Joslin Smith’s mother, Kelly Smith.

He posted: “The difference is not jail food but the absence of drugs in her body.”

The Patriotic Alliance leader – now the Minister of Sport, Art, and Culture – previously vowed to find the missing Saldanha Bay girl, even if it means digging into his own pockets.

He continued: “I sincerely hope that the goodness that we are all born with shall return also. She must confess and share the truth with the authorities regarding her daughter Joslin.

“If drugs don’t kill you physically, it kills who you were. I hope as the drugs leave, the truth shall enter her life again. Kelly praat tog die waarheid [tell the truth]”.

The difference is not jail food but absence of drugs in her body I sincerely hope that the goodness that we are all…
Posted by Gayton Mckenzie on Monday 3 March 2025

A year ago, Gayton launched an active search funded by himself to find the green-eyed girl after her disappearance. At the time, he was accused of using his position of influence to sway voters at the polls.

Gayton interviewed Kelly Smith in a breakfast meeting at Spur. He also paid for the accommodation of Kelly and her partner, Boeta, after they received threats from the community.

joslin smith, kelly smith, trial — Joslin Smith’s mother Kelly Smith appeared at her trial in a jovial mood. She is accused of child trafficking and kidnapping.
Images via TikTok: IOL News

Since taking up a ministerial role, Gayton has pledged to donate his salary to the Joslin Smith Foundation, which he would establish to help find missing children in South Africa.

IS THERE A FOUNDATION IN JOSLIN’S HONOUR?

On the first anniversary of her disappearance, many members of the public questioned on social media if Gayton McKenzie had put his money where his mouth was regarding the Joslin Smith Foundation.

In July last year, Gayton claimed that his lawyers were “in the final stages of registering the foundation.”

A month earlier, Gayton revealed that he would donate “100%” of his salary to the foundation, which he would establish to raise awareness of missing children in the country.

In November, Gayton gave an update, posting on Facebook: “The Joslin Smith Foundation does not yet exist because we want to make sure we get it right and don’t just do it to please the members of other political parties who think this matter has anything to do with them.

“It is a private, personal matter relating to my own funds. And what I choose to do with my own money.

“To rush into the creation of any foundation would be a mistake. The obvious fact that it has not yet been registered does not mean that I have gone back on my undertaking to not benefit from my ministerial salary”.

Statement Regarding Spending of Ministerial Salary When I became a Minister, I declared that I would not benefit from…
Posted by Gayton Mckenzie on Sunday 10 November 2024