The trial of Kelly Smith, accused in the disappearance of her daughter Joshlin, reveals alarming details. Allegations suggest the child was sought for her eyes and skin by a traditional healer. Despite extensive searches, Joshlin remains missing, with disturbing testimonies implicating her parents in potential trafficking.
The case regarding the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith from Saldanha Bay, South Africa, has taken a disturbing turn. Allegations have surfaced in court stating that Joshlin was sought after by a traditional healer for her striking blue-green eyes and fair skin. Her mother, Kelly Smith, alongside her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and friend Steveno van Rhyn, face charges of human trafficking and kidnapping but maintain their innocence.
Joshlin vanished in February 2024, and despite an extensive search effort, her whereabouts remain unknown. Ms. Smith initially claimed her daughter went missing while in Appollis’s care, but the prosecution contends that she had a role in the child’s disappearance, suggesting she may have sold her.
As the trial progresses, numerous alarming details regarding the circumstances surrounding Joshlin’s disappearance have emerged. The court learned that Ms. Smith waited over six hours to inform the authorities about her daughter’s absence and appeared more anxious about her boyfriend than her missing child during the search.
Testimonies in court revealed shocking claims made by Ms. Smith. A local pastor testified that she had considered selling her children for a price, and Joshlin’s teacher recounted a conversation where Ms. Smith implied that her daughter had already been transported “on a ship, inside a container.”
The trial’s most dramatic testimony came from Lourentia Lombaard, a friend of Ms. Smith, who alleged that Ms. Smith confessed to selling her daughter to a “sangoma,” or traditional healer, driven by financial desperation. Lombaard also noted that Ms. Smith had packed Joshlin’s clothes before leaving with a woman Lombaard suspected to be the sangoma.
In a heartfelt plea, Lombaard expressed regret about her lack of intervention, urging that whoever might have Joshlin return her safely. The identity and intentions of the alleged traditional healer remain unclear, although it is acknowledged that such practitioners are recognized in South Africa under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007. The ongoing trial is anticipated to conclude by 28 March.
The troubling case of Joshlin Smith continues to unfold as the trial of her mother and accomplices progresses. The shocking allegations surrounding her disappearance underscore significant societal issues related to traditional beliefs in South Africa. With numerous testimonies revealing a potential dark motive behind the kidnapping, the community remains hopeful for Joshlin’s safe return. The proceedings are set to continue, revealing more as the trial approaches its conclusion.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
