Police intensify search for missing Joslin

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The police have intensified the search for missing Joslin Smith with an identified area in Diazville that was subdivided into zones as part of the coordination of the search.

The six-year-old girl went missing on Monday, February 19, in Saldanha, Western Cape.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, the search party has also been bolstered by a contingent from the local South African Navy joining the search.

“Another large group from the City of Cape Town also deployed from Monday to the area. The Saldanha Bay municipality’s firefighters are also playing a pivotal role applying their expertise in the search.

“We have also brought in the services of the mounted unit, more specialised dogs from the K9 unit are set to scour the identified area. Detectives from the SAPS provincial office in Cape Town have since descended on the West Coast town to support the local investigators,” she said.

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Brig Potelwa stated that scores of neighbourhood watch members, community-based organisations and local residents have also been working around the clock in the quest to find Joslin.

She added; “Items found during a search over the weekend have been sent to the Plattekloof forensic laboratory for analysis as part of the investigation.”

Minister Cele meets Joslin family

Meanwhile, police minister Bheki Cele met with the family of Joslin as well as the residents of the broader Saldanha community on Saturday.

During the community meeting, Cele called for calm amid the finger pointing and peddling of false information about the police investigation into her disappearance.

“You are a community that has united though this trying time, don’t allow those who are trying to get political mileage out of the disappearance of a little girl to divide you. Unite and work with the police to bring her back home.

“From the police side, I want to assure you that no resource will be spared to find her, the police have not withdrawn from this search and they are under a directive to work closer with anyone who comes up with any valuable information that can assist,” the minister concluded.