Vincent Cruywagen

Cape Town

Multimedia Journalist at Daily Maverick

Multimedia journalist based in Cape Town, South Africa. @vcruywagen Email me at [email protected]

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Articles

Life in prison the only fitting sentence for Joshlin’s kidnappers, court hears

1 week ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

MISSING CHILD From left: Jacquen Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Raquel ‘Kelly’ Smith are expected to be sentenced in the Western Cape Division of the High Court sitting in Saldanha on Thursday, 29 May 2025 for the trafficking and kidnapping of Smith‘s daughter Joshlin. (Photo: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach) State prosecutor Zelda Swanepoel says there is no compelling reason to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. The only fitting sentence for convicted human...
Courtroom in tears as shattered community describes the effect of Joshlin’s disappearance

1 week ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

A broken grandmother. A family friend who wanted to intervene. A teacher at a loss for words. On Wednesday, the Western Cape Division of the High Court heard the impact that Joshlin Smith’s disappearance had on family members and the community. Victim impact statements describing the pain of those affected by Joshlin Smith’s disappearance triggered a torrent of emotions in the courtroom on Wednesday, 28 May 2025.
‘Countless other Joshlins out there,’ trafficking expert tells Western Cape High Court

1 week ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

MISSING CHILD Raquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, the alleged mastermind behind the disappearance of her child Joshlin Smith, at the Western Cape Division of the High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay on Tuesday, 27 May 2025. (Photo: Elisma van der Watt / Maroela Media) Human trafficking expert Dr Marcel van der Watt told the court that ‘trafficking in persons thrives in the shadows, exploiting environments of poverty, inequality and lack of awareness’. Reports submitted as part of sentencing proceedings to...
Joshlin Smith case - State to call for life imprisonment

1 week ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

Sentencing proceedings in the Joshlin Smith trial begin in Saldanha Bay on Tuesday. It’s unclear whether the defence will call witnesses or take the stand. Sentencing proceedings in the Joshlin Smith case are set down for Tuesday and Wednesday this week before Judge Nathan Erasmus is due to hand down the sentences for Racquel Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn on Thursday, 29 May.
Killers of two Cape Town cops get double life sentences

2 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

One of the four accused was 23 years old and in Grade 7 when he dropped out of school and embarked on a life of crime. Two others were 17. On Wednesday, Ndumiso Lutshetu (18), Ashwin Kennedy (22), Bongani Mvamveki (36) and Malibongwe Witbooi (35) were handed double life sentences by the Western Cape High Court for the murders of City of Cape Town law enforcement officers Jan Nieuwenhuys and Simthembile Nyangiwe on 4 September 2019.
Lifman murder accused duo lose appeal bid for bail

3 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

AGE OF ASSASSINS Lifman murder accused Johannes Jacobs and Gert Bezuidenhout have been refused bail.
Trio convicted in Joshlin Smith trial to know their sentences on 29 May

4 weeks ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

The sentencing proceedings for Racquel Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping Joshlin Smith, will be held from 27 to 29 May 2025. Victim impact reports from individuals and community members, as well as evidence from a human trafficking expert, are central to the State’s arguments in aggravation of sentencing for the three convicted of kidnapping and trafficking Joshlin Smith.
Kelly Smith’s mother - my daughter said she’ll ‘speak at sentencing proceedings’

1 month ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

Amanda Daniels-Smith, the mother of convicted kidnapper and child trafficker Racquel Smith, also known as Kelly, says she has forgiven her child, but still wants to know what happened to Joshlin Smith. Following Racquel “Kelly” Smith’s conviction for the kidnapping and human trafficking of her daughter Joshlin, Amanda Daniels-Smith, Kelly’s mother, visited her in the improvised holding cells at the Saldanha Bay Multipurpose Centre.
Joshlin Smith case — Why court found accused guilty

1 month ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

MISSING CHILD From left: Jacquen Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith – the three people accused of kidnapping and trafficking Joshlin Smith learn of their fate as Judge Nathan Erasmus hands down judgment in Saldanha Bay on 2 May 2024. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images ) The evidence of an evangelist, as well as the decision by Racquel Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn not to testify, were key elements that led to their conviction in the Joshlin Smith human...
Smith, Appollis and Van Rhyn convicted in Joshlin Smith case

1 month ago | dailymaverick.co.za | Vincent Cruywagen

NEWSFLASH Kelly Smith during the Joshlin Smith kidnapping trial at White City Multipurpose Centre on 2 May 2025 in Saldanha Bay, South Africa.