In the South African seaside town of Saldanha Bay, a case involving six-year-old Joshlin Smith has garnered attention due to a massive search operation involving the navy and local volunteers. The story has been made irresistible by the community living with its day-to-day reality, which remains scared. Saldanha Bay, known for its fishing, watersports, and colourful wildflowers, still reflects the inequalities that the separate and unequal development system bequeathed.
The upmarket housing in Saldanha Bay is close to the coastline, while the areas of Diazville and Middelpos, comprising low-cost and informal housing, have a noticeable change. The homes in Diazville are mostly government-subsidised bare brick-and-mortar structures, known as RDP (part of the Reconstruction and Development Programme) homes. At the same time, in the adjacent Middelpos area, RDP homes and corrugated iron shacks are built on an open field.
There is a marked sense of anxiety and suspicion in the two communities, mainly when they see an outsider or a car that is not from the area. The rise in the number of parents and guardians eagerly waiting to collect their children outside the gates of the modest Diazville primary school indicates how much more care is being taken by residents to ensure the safety of young children in the area.
Getting those adults to speak is difficult, given the media frenzy and several instances of fake news disseminated on social media. Carmelite Ross, who participated in many of the searches for Joshlin in the first few days after the little girl's disappearance, chose to step back for her own well-being. She had sleepless nights because if it were her child, she wouldn't think she would still be alive due to all the worries, stress, and everything that you have to deal with.
Two weeks after Joshlin disappeared from her modest shack in the Middelpos informal settlement, police arrested her mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, Smith's boyfriend, Jacquen "Boeta" Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Phumza Sigaqa. That dwelling has since been locked up and stands deserted. The four first appeared in the local magistrate's court on 7 March on charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. A large crowd of local people gathered around the court to call for "justice for Joshlin."
The first few days after her disappearance were accompanied by some racial tension between coloured and black members of the community following the arrest of Ms Sigaqa, a black person. She was caught up in a maelstrom of rumours, and media reports incorrectly identified her as a traditional healer or sangoma. Liwani Siyabulela, ward councillor for Middelpos, tells the BBC that they have managed to address the issues - they've made it clear it's not about being coloured or black or white, Indian or whatever. At least now the atmosphere is back to normal," says Ms Siyabulela, a member of the governing African National Congress (ANC).
Ms Sigaqa has been freed after charges against her were withdrawn due to a lack of evidence. She has since left her home, which is just a few meters from where Joshlin lived, following threats from members of the community.
