Disturbing Details Revealed in Trial of Missing South African Girl

Testimonies reveal that Joshlin Smith's mother, Kelly Smith, is accused of selling her daughter to a traditional healer for her physical features. The ongoing trial exposes shocking allegations about a possible kidnapping scheme that remains unresolved since Joshlin's disappearance in February 2024.

A missing six-year-old girl, Joshlin Smith, whose case has captivated South Africa since her disappearance in February 2024, has now become the center of a troubling trial filled with allegations of human trafficking. According to recent testimonies presented in court, Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, is accused of having plotted the abduction for the purpose of selling her daughter to a traditional healer, allegedly due to the girl's striking fair complexion and unique blue-green eyes.

The shocking disclosures emerge from the ongoing trial, which has now entered its third week at a community center in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town. Scottlin's family has been urged to come forward and assist in the police investigation following her mysterious vanishing from outside her home. Reports indicate that Smith and her accomplices—her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and a friend, Steveno van Rhyn—have consistently maintained their innocence amidst escalating accusations of severe wrongdoing.

Details of Joshlin's disappearance indicate that Smith initially claimed her daughter went missing while in the care of Appollis. However, prosecutors assert that Smith sold her daughter and subsequently fabricated circumstances surrounding the incident. The mother reportedly delayed reporting Joshlin's absence to authorities for over six hours, displaying a troubling calmness and seeming more concerned for Appollis than for her missing child.

As the trial progresses, disturbing evidence has emerged, including a pastor's testimony claiming that Smith had previously expressed a willingness to sell her children for substantial sums of money, but was open to lower offers. Further alarming allegations surfaced when Joshlin's teacher testified that Smith had alluded to her daughter being transported in a container towards West Africa, deepening the sense of despair in the courtroom.

Most notably, neighbor Lourentia Lombaard's testimony has raised eyebrows, as she claimed that Smith confessed to having sold her child to a "sangoma" (traditional healer). Over three days, Ms. Lombaard recounted witnessing Smith preparing Joshlin's belongings and leaving with a woman believed to be the healer. This led to chilling assertions that the healer desired a child like Joshlin for her physical attributes.

Despite the gravity of these claims, the traditional healer once charged in connection with this case was later released due to insufficient evidence. As the trial unfolds, Lombaard, overcome with remorse for her role, pleaded for the return of Joshlin, expressing hope that she would be found alive. The anticipated conclusion of this trial awaits, with proceedings expected to extend until the end of March.