Allegations of Child Trafficking Emerge in South African Girl's Disappearance

The disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, missing since February 2024 in Saldanha Bay, has led to shocking allegations of human trafficking against her mother and accomplices, with claims involving a traditional healer.

A chilling mystery unfolds in South Africa as the trial of Kelly Smith, mother of the missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith, continues to reveal disturbing allegations surrounding the child’s disappearance. Joshlin vanished from her home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024, sparking national outrage and a desperate search that has yet to yield results.

Recently, during the ongoing court proceedings, disturbing claims were made alleging that Joshlin was sought after by a traditional healer for her appealing physical attributes, particularly her blue-green eyes and fair skin. This eye-opening revelation was part of the accusations against Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, all pleading not guilty to charges of human trafficking and kidnapping.

Court testimonies indicated that Kelly Smith initially reported her daughter missing six hours after first realizing she was gone, appearing more preoccupied with her boyfriend's location than her child's safety. As the trial progressed, additional accusations intensified. A local pastor testified that in 2023, he had overheard Smith discuss selling her three children for financial gains, suggesting a premeditated motive behind Joshlin's disappearance.

Further, a teacher of Joshlin claimed that during the search, Smith mentioned her daughter was already "on a ship, inside a container, and on the way to West Africa," indicating a possible planned trafficking route.

Perhaps the most shocking testimony came from Lourentia Lombaard, a neighbor and friend, who became a state witness. Lombaard reported that Smith confessed to selling her child to a sangoma, a traditional healer, driven by dire financial straits. She recounted seeing Smith prepare Joshlin's belongings and get into a car with a woman believed to be involved in the transaction.

Lombaard expressed remorse for not stopping Smith, appealing for Joshlin's safe return, stating, "Please bring her back alive." The identity of the alleged traditional healer remains unclear, as earlier charges against her were dropped due to lack of evidence. Traditional healers, recognized under South Africa's Traditional Health Practitioners Act, can sometimes be implicated in dubious practices, including the use of body parts for rituals.

The trial is set to run until March 28, aiming to shed light on this horrific case, while the search for Joshlin continues.