Disturbing Allegations Emerge in Disappearance of South African Girl

The trial of Kelly Smith, accused of orchestrating her daughter's kidnapping, has unveiled harrowing allegations that the missing six-year-old, Joshlin Smith, was desired for her physical attributes by a traditional healer. The case raises broader concerns regarding human trafficking discussions in South Africa.

A harrowing case surrounding the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith from Saldanha Bay, South Africa, is unfolding in court, with alarming allegations surfacing regarding her mother, Kelly Smith. Prosecutors claim that Smith, alongside her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and friend Steveno van Rhyn, conspired in what appears to be a disturbing case of human trafficking masked as a kidnapping. Joshlin's disappearance in February 2024 shocked the local community and the nation, prompting a widespread search effort that has yet to yield results.

The court proceedings, now in their third week, have uncovered distressing details from the day of Joshlin's disappearance. Smith initially claimed she left her daughter in Appollis’s care, yet prosecutors argue that she misled authorities after failing to report Joshlin's absence for over six hours. In testimony, a local pastor alleged that Smith had previously expressed a willingness to sell her children for as little as 275 dollars, raising critical concerns about her motivations at the time of Joshlin's disappearance.

Witnesses have detailed further unsettling claims. Lourentia Lombaard, a neighbor and friend of Smith, recently testified that Smith confessed to selling her child to a "sangoma," or traditional healer, driven by financial desperation. Lombaard recounted seeing Smith packing clothes for Joshlin before they left to meet a woman she suspects to be the sangoma.

In a chilling twist, Lombaard revealed that the "person who allegedly took Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin," although no evidence has clarified the motives or practices of such traditional healers. The court also learned that a woman initially charged in connection to Joshlin's kidnapping was released due to insufficient evidence.

Importantly, the status and legitimacy of traditional healers, recognized under South African law, complicate the narrative, as some practitioners may engage in harmful practices under the guise of cultural healing. Lombaard has expressed deep regret for her inability to prevent the alleged sale and has implored anyone with knowledge about Joshlin's whereabouts to return her safely.

As the trial continues, it grapples not just with Smith's alleged actions but also with broader implications for child safety and the prevalence of human trafficking in South Africa. The court is expected to run until late March.