Expert: Joshlin case reveals child protection failures
A violence monitoring expert says it's still possible to find 6-year-old Joshlin Smith - but warns it will be difficult.
" The probability is that child won't be found, but there are exceptions," said Mary de Haas.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says they've begun phase two of the investigation into the missing child.
This week, Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith and two co-accused, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn were sentenced to life imprisonment for human trafficking and given 10 years for kidnapping.
Judge Nathan Erasmus said Smith had been failed by the system.
READ: Joshlin Smith: Steveno van Rhyn to appeal life sentence
De Haas has echoed the sentiments, calling the case an example of governance failure.
"The kidnapping of children or the trafficking, including by people who should be protecting them. And I think we have to take it seriously and insist that we do something about it.
"Everybody is letting children down, starting with the very departments. That should be there for children that should have expertise in standing for the rights of children," she added.
