‘Full of witchcraft’: Gayton on Saldanha Bay search for Joslin Smith

Gayton McKenzie has opened up the “dark cloud” of “witchcraft” and “sangomas” that hangs over Saldanha Bay, nearly six weeks since the disappearance of Joslin Smith.

The Patriotic Alliance leader has been active on the ground in the search for the six-year-old girl.  He has been updating his Facebook followers daily with new information on the investigation.

According to the politician, he believes “satanic” aspects are involved in many of the kidnappings that occur on the West Coast.

WHERE IS JOSLIN SMITH?

On 19 February – almost six weeks ago – Joslin Smith went missing from her home in the Middelpos informal settlement in Diazville, Saldanha Bay.

Four suspects – including Joslin’s mother, Kelly, and her boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis, as well as friends Steveno Van Rhyn and Lourentia Lombaard, have been arrested for kidnapping and human trafficking.

All four have abandoned bail and are currently in custody.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lombaard made a “full confession” linking her to Joslin’s disappearance.

The state further claimed that Joslin’s mother, Kelly, instructed Appollis and Van Rhyn to sell her daughter to a sangoma for R20 000 to be used in muti.

All four accused are alleged to be abusing the street drug Tik (crystal meth), reports the Daily Voice.

Eric Ntabazalila said more arrests were imminent and charges would be added.

He told the publication: “The details of what happened and the merits will come out at a later stage [in court].”

GAYTON MCKENZIE ON ‘DARK CLOUD’ IN SALDANHA BAY

Meanwhile, Gayton McKenzie has spoken about supernatural forces he believes are at work in Joslin Smith’s disappearance.

He shared in a Facebook post on Saturday, 30 March: “We opened so many holes that look like fresh graves only to find sangoma bones and satanic things like dolls with knives.

“We have even found a bloody knife”.

According to the PA leader, many spiritual leaders have told him about a “dark cloud hanging over” Saldanha Bay. 

He continued: “The place is full of witchcraft things. A senior pastor called me and told me that the West Coast is the place where kidnapped people get taken out by the harbour. Hence the place has so many practitioners of witchcraft.

Gayton added that he, along with his team, would rely on their Christian faith and prayer to “intervene.”

FRUSTRATIONS ON DNA DELAYS

Meanwhile, Gayton McKenzie has also shared his frustrations at the delay in DNA test results.

Earlier this month, police found a pair of girl’s bloody shorts, a sheet, and a man’s shirt in an open veld near Joslin Smith’s home. The clothing was taken in for testing. According to Gayton, police also discovered a blood-stained pillow, which was also taken as evidence.

In a Facebook post, the 50-year-old criticised authorities for not speeding up the process.

He shared: “Why can’t they have a quick lab turnaround time of 24 hours?

“This is a special case that needs quick turnaround times because life can still be saved by quick reactions.  This is such an emotional roller coaster.”