A Chilling Verdict
Kelly Smith, the mother of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith, was convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking on May 2. Her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and friend, Steveno van Rhyn, were also found guilty. Prosecutors claimed Smith sold Joshlin to a “sangoma” (traditional healer) for her “fair skin and turquoise eyes.”
Disturbing Testimonies
Neighbor Lourentia Lombaard testified, “I did something silly. I sold my child to a sangoma,” quoting Smith’s alleged confession. She said she saw Smith packing Joshlin’s clothes and offering bribes for silence. Another witness, Paulina Tshosa, recalled seeing Smith drag Joshlin into a shack, where the girl lost a flip-flop during the struggle.
Ongoing Mystery
Joshlin vanished from her South African home in February 2024. Despite extensive searches, she remains missing. Smith reportedly told her daughter’s teacher that Joshlin was “on a ship, inside a container, on the way to West Africa.”
Public Outrage
Outside court, crowds chanted, “We want Joshlin back.” The three convicted now face possible life sentences, though all pleaded not guilty.
