The shocking case of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, missing since February 2022, has led to the conviction of her mother, Kelly Smith, and two others for their roles in her kidnapping and trafficking. Despite their not guilty pleas, evidence presented at trial has stirred widespread fear and concern for child safety in South Africa.
South African Mother Convicted of Kidnapping and Trafficking Her Missing Daughter
South African Mother Convicted of Kidnapping and Trafficking Her Missing Daughter
Kelly Smith, alongside her accomplices, has been found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith, who disappeared over a year ago.
Kelly Smith, a South African woman, has been found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith, who has been missing for over a year. Alongside her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, Smith was convicted after intense public scrutiny and a courtroom drama surrounding the six-year-old's disappearance in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town.
Joshlin was reported missing in February 2022, and despite extensive media coverage and community efforts to locate her, she remains unaccounted for. The courtroom erupted in emotional responses when the verdict was announced, with Smith visibly distraught while Van Rhyn smiled unexpectedly amidst the solemn proceedings.
During the trial, prosecutors accused Smith of selling Joshlin to a traditional healer, referred to as a "sangoma" in South Africa, alleging the child was sought after for her physical attributes. Testimonies included shocking claims from neighbors and acquaintances that Smith had hinted at selling her children due to financial struggles, with monetary figures as low as 20,000 rand ($1,100) being discussed.
The defense sought to discredit witness testimonies, particularly targeting Lourentia Lombaard, a key state witness, who suggested that Smith was often under the influence of drugs, which may have contributed to her alleged actions. However, Smith and her co-defendants chose not to present any form of defense during the trial.
As the trial captivated South African audiences, discussions grew around the alarming claims regarding the vulnerabilities faced by children in indigent communities. Parents in Joshlin’s neighborhood have expressed fears about their children's safety as the investigation continues.
With a sentencing date yet to be decided, Smith, Appollis, and Van Rhyn now face potential life sentences, and police investigations remain ongoing to locate Joshlin.
