A South African court has convicted a mother and two men of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter in a chilling case that has drawn national attention since the child’s disappearance in early 2024. The judgment marks a grim milestone in a story that has horrified communities across the country.
The case centers around Joshlin Smith, a six-year-old girl who vanished from her home in the small town of Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, located in South Africa’s Western Cape province. She was last seen on February 19, 2024, sparking a nationwide search that has yet to yield any trace of her.
On Friday, the Western Cape High Court found Kelly Smith, Joshlin’s mother, her boyfriend Jacquen Apollis, and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking. The judge, in his ruling, stated that the conduct of Kelly Smith was inconsistent with that of a concerned parent and inferred that she knew what had happened to her daughter. His remarks underscored the court’s conclusion that Smith played a direct and deliberate role in the child’s disappearance.
While the full details surrounding Joshlin’s fate remain unknown, the prosecution built its case around disturbing witness testimony. One witness told the court that Kelly Smith confessed to having sold her daughter to a sangoma a traditional healer for 20,000 rand (approximately $1,100). The witness said the girl was allegedly sought after for her physical features, specifically her eyes and skin.
The court, however, did not specify in its ruling who the child was ultimately sold to or the exact reasons behind the transaction. This lack of detail leaves open painful questions about what truly happened to Joshlin after she went missing.
The ruling has sent shockwaves through the community of Saldanha Bay and the broader South African public. The idea that a mother could participate in such an act against her own child has stirred deep outrage and sorrow. Many community members have expressed feelings of betrayal and heartbreak, having held vigils and supported search efforts for over a year with hope that Joshlin might be found alive.
Law enforcement officials have continued to appeal for any information that might help locate the missing girl. Despite the conviction of the three suspects, the search for Joshlin remains active, and authorities have reiterated that the case will not be closed until she is found.
The three convicted individuals will remain in custody pending sentencing. No date has yet been announced for the sentencing hearing, but prosecutors are expected to push for harsh penalties given the gravity of the offenses.
This case has reignited national discussions about child protection, parental responsibility, and the dark undercurrents of child trafficking in South Africa. Activists and lawmakers are calling for more robust measures to prevent similar tragedies and to ensure that communities are better equipped to detect and report suspicious behavior involving children.
As the country waits for the next developments in the case, many continue to hope for a resolution and, most importantly, for answers about what truly happened to Joshlin Smith.
