Missing South African girl was wanted for her 'eyes and skin'

In February 2024, a six-year-old girl named Joshlin Smith went missing from her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa. Despite extensive searches and media coverage, she has not been found. Recently, during a court trial, it was revealed that a traditional healer, known as a 'sangoma', was allegedly interested in Joshlin for her striking blue-green eyes and fair skin. This shocking information emerged as part of the ongoing trial of Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, who is accused of orchestrating her daughter's kidnapping. Kelly, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, faces serious charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. The news of Joshlin's disappearance sent shockwaves throughout South Africa, and many people were deeply affected by the case. Initially, Kelly claimed that she had left Joshlin in the care of Jacquen when the little girl went missing. However, prosecutors later accused her of having sold or exchanged her daughter and lying about the circumstances of her disappearance. The trial, which is now in its third week, is being held at a community center in Saldanha. During the first week of the trial, the court heard that Kelly did not report Joshlin missing until more than six hours after she first noticed her absence. This raised suspicions, as she appeared calm during the search and seemed more concerned about her boyfriend's whereabouts than her missing child. In the second week of the trial, even more disturbing claims were made. A local pastor testified that he had heard Kelly discussing the possibility of selling her children for 20,000 rand, which is approximately $1,100. He also mentioned that she was willing to accept a lower amount of around $275. Additionally, Joshlin's teacher testified that Kelly had told her during the search that her daughter was already 'on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa'. These revelations were shocking and raised many questions about the case. A key witness in the trial, Lourentia Lombaard, who is a friend and neighbor of Kelly, took the stand last Thursday. Over three days, she provided detailed accounts of the events leading up to Joshlin's disappearance, which involved the traditional healer. Lourentia alleged that Kelly confessed to her, saying, 'I did something silly … I sold my child to a sangoma', explaining that she was driven by a desperate need for money. According to Lourentia, Kelly promised those who knew about her plan some money in exchange for their silence. She also testified that she witnessed Kelly packing clothes for Joshlin into a black bag, which Kelly then carried as they walked to meet a woman whom Lourentia believed was the sangoma. They got into a white car and drove away with the woman. On the final day of her testimony, Lourentia told the court that the 'person who allegedly took Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin'. The court did not clarify why a sangoma would desire a child for these reasons. A woman believed to be a traditional healer was initially arrested and charged alongside Kelly and her co-accused last year, but the charges against her were eventually dropped due to a lack of evidence. In South Africa, sangomas are legally recognized under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, along with herbalists and traditional birth attendants. They are believed to have the ability to provide advice and healing through ancestral spirits. However, some individuals exploit this trust and engage in unethical practices, including selling charms that involve body parts. Lourentia expressed her sorrow over her involvement in Joshlin's disappearance, stating that she had tried unsuccessfully to prevent Kelly from selling her daughter. She made a heartfelt appeal to whoever had taken Joshlin, urging them to 'please bring her back alive'. The trial is expected to continue until March 28, and many people are following the case closely, hoping for answers and justice for Joshlin.