Joslin's aunt says Kelly was 'happy' about Gayton's financial help

Joslin’s aunt says Kelly was ‘happy’ about Gayton’s financial help

Mickeyla Daniels – the aunt of Joslin Smith – claims her sister Kelly was more interested in Gayton McKenzie’s help than her missing child.

mickeyla daniels, joslin smith, kelly smith, gayton mckenzie

Joslin Smith's aunt Mickeyla Daniels testified in court about her sister, Kelly Smith. Images via screenshot: SABC News

Mickeyla Daniels – the sister of Kelly Smith and aunt to missing girl Joslin Smith – has testified in court about how her sibling was aware of her daughter’s location after her disappearance last year. She also claimed that her sibling was “happy” and “laughing” after meeting with Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie, now the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture.

Joslin went missing on 19 February 2024 from the informal settlement of Middelpos in Diazville. Kelly – as well as her partner Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis and pal Steveno van Rhyn – are accused of selling the child to fund their drug habit.

Their trial of child trafficking and kidnapping is being heard in the High Court, sitting under the Saldanha Bay Multipurpose Centre.

KELLY SMITH’S SISTER TESTIFIES IN COURT

On Monday, 17 March – the third week of the trial – Mickeyla Daniels took to the witness stand. The blonde-haired woman – a SAPS constable – is the younger sister of Kelly Smith and aunt to Joslin Smith.

According to Mickeyla, she had contacted Kelly via WhatsApp and Facebook after the disappearance of her niece, Joslin.

As she did in a Facebook Live with Gayton McKenzie last year, Mickeyla relayed Kelly’s words: “My child is in the squatter camp. Someone wanted to buy her, but Saldanha was ‘too heated.’ Those were her exact words to me.”

While Kelly initially sounded distressed, she soon became “happy and laughing” after Gayton began financially assisting her, claims Mickeyla.

gayton mckenzie, joslin smith, — Joslin Smith’s mother, Kelly Smith, with Gayton McKenzie at a local Spur.
Images via Facebook: Gayton McKenzie

The politician first met Kelly and her children at a local Spur, where he bought them food and, later, clothing and groceries.

Mickeyla said: “The more I asked her about Joslin, the more she told me about Gayton. She was happy”.

JOSLIN WAS ‘BOUGHT’ OVER GREEN EYES AND BLONDE HAIR

Meanwhile, state witness Lourentia Lombaard, a former accused, has claimed that Joslin Smith was allegedly sold to a sangoma by her mother, Kelly Smith.

The little girl was allegedly bought for R20 000, with Kelly promising to pay Lourentia R1 000 as “hush money.”

Days after Joslin went missing, Lourentia confronted Kelly in her Middelpos shack.

Lourentia said in court, “She [Kelly] told me she knew what she did with Joslin. And she mentioned there was someone who paid her to keep quiet. I asked who, and she never told me.”

She continued: “The person who was wanting Joslin wanted her for her eyes and skin.”

Lourentia added that she was not paid the money owed to her.