A South African woman, Kelly Smith, has been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who vanished more than a year ago and remains missing to this day. The disturbing case, which gripped the nation, saw Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn found guilty on Friday in a high-profile trial held in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town.
Joshlin disappeared in February 2023 from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, sparking a massive, highly publicized search across the country. Despite widespread efforts, the young girl has never been found. Prosecutors accused Smith of “selling, delivering, or exchanging” her daughter and then misleading the public and authorities about her disappearance.
Throughout the trial, shocking allegations emerged. A key state witness, Lourentia Lombaard a friend and neighbor of Smith, testified that Smith admitted to selling Joshlin to a traditional healer, or “sangoma.” Lombaard further alleged that the person who took Joshlin wanted her for her “eyes and skin.” Other testimony included claims that Smith had spoken openly about selling her children for as little as 5,000 rand ($275).
One of Joshlin’s teachers also testified that during the search, Smith had chillingly remarked that her daughter was already “on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa.” Another witness, a local pastor, claimed that Smith discussed plans to sell her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100) each.
Despite Smith’s lawyer challenging the credibility of the witnesses and pointing out inconsistencies in their accounts, the court ultimately found all three accused guilty of kidnapping and child trafficking. As the verdict was read, Kelly Smith appeared emotional, wiping tears from her eyes, while van Rhyn smiled inexplicably. The packed courtroom responded with a mixture of applause and tears.
The trial drew national attention and was moved to the Saldanha Multipurpose Centre to accommodate the large number of spectators. Streets were closed and police were deployed to maintain order.
Joshlin Smith’s disappearance remains unresolved, and her whereabouts are still unknown. The verdict has intensified public calls for justice and highlighted growing concerns about child trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable families in South Africa.
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