Lombaard, initially arrested alongside them, turned state witness and claimed Kelly had sold her daughter to a sangoma for R20,000, offering Lombaard R1,000 and van Rhyn R1,200 in exchange for their silence.

On Tuesday, she testified about her friendship with Joshlin’s mother.

She revealed that Kelly had suspected her of having an affair with Appollis, which had caused tension between them before Joshlin’s disappearance.

As questioning continued, Kelly’s lawyer Rinesh Sivnarain pressed her about a confession she had made to Captain Cilliers at Saldanha Bay police station following her arrest in March 2024.

In response, Lombaard suddenly reported feeling dizzy and had to be carried out of the courtroom by officials.

A medical professional arrived, and the sound of a blood pressure monitor filled the court. It remains unclear whether she will be fit to return to testify on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Van Rhyn’s lawyer, Nobahle Mkabayi, had challenged Lombaard’s credibility, questioning her motives for implicating Van Rhyn.

Mkabayi suggested she had falsely accused him out of anger after he had informed the police about her boyfriend’s involvement.

Mkabayi accused her of misleading the court, with Judge Erasmus stepping in to clarify that the defence believed she was implicating van Rhyn due to personal resentment rather than evidence.

Lombaard insisted that he had been involved.

As the contradictions in her testimony mounted, Judge Erasmus expressed his growing scepticism, remarking that the longer he sat in court, the more surprises emerged. The trial was adjourned following Lombaard’s sudden illness, and proceedings are expected to continue on Wednesday, potentially with new witnesses.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za

IOL