Gayton McKenzie says his Patriotic Alliance helped keep public attention on missing South African girl Joslin Smith, and he isn't backing down from that claim. The party leader and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture believes her case might have faded from public view without the PA's efforts.
His comments came during a Facebook Live session, where he also defended his party's refusal to speak with local media outlets. McKenzie says journalists have treated the PA unfairly, which led him to halt interviews with them.
But his role in the search has drawn criticism as well. Some have questioned his public involvement, yet he maintains that finding the child remains a personal priority.
One thing McKenzie refuses to accept is that Joslin may have died. He still believes she could be alive and says that belief gives him a reason to keep searching. He has also claimed to have received fresh leads and set up a foundation in her name.
Joslin was just six when she vanished from Middelpos in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape. Her ninth birthday has since passed with no clear answer about where she is. Her case has left South Africans with a painful mystery that remains unresolved.
Her mother, Racquel Kelly Smith, is serving a life sentence for trafficking her child. Jacquen Boeta Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn received the same punishment. Each also got a 10-year prison term for kidnapping, with those terms running alongside their life sentences.
Yet the court case did not lead police to Joslin. Despite the convictions, investigators have not found her, and the search remains open.
The lack of answers is what keeps the case in public debate. McKenzie argues that continued attention matters, while his critics have raised concerns about his conduct. As for Joslin's whereabouts, there is still no confirmed answer.
His comments came during a Facebook Live session, where he also defended his party's refusal to speak with local media outlets. McKenzie says journalists have treated the PA unfairly, which led him to halt interviews with them.
But his role in the search has drawn criticism as well. Some have questioned his public involvement, yet he maintains that finding the child remains a personal priority.
One thing McKenzie refuses to accept is that Joslin may have died. He still believes she could be alive and says that belief gives him a reason to keep searching. He has also claimed to have received fresh leads and set up a foundation in her name.
Joslin was just six when she vanished from Middelpos in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape. Her ninth birthday has since passed with no clear answer about where she is. Her case has left South Africans with a painful mystery that remains unresolved.
Her mother, Racquel Kelly Smith, is serving a life sentence for trafficking her child. Jacquen Boeta Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn received the same punishment. Each also got a 10-year prison term for kidnapping, with those terms running alongside their life sentences.
Yet the court case did not lead police to Joslin. Despite the convictions, investigators have not found her, and the search remains open.
The lack of answers is what keeps the case in public debate. McKenzie argues that continued attention matters, while his critics have raised concerns about his conduct. As for Joslin's whereabouts, there is still no confirmed answer.
