In a disturbing case that has gripped South Africa and drawn international outrage, a mother and two men were convicted on Friday, May 2, 2025, of kidnapping and trafficking charges related to the disappearance of 6-year-old Joshlin Smith, who went missing in February 2024.
Kelly Smith, the child’s mother, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, were found guilty in a South African court of trafficking Joshlin, allegedly to a traditional healer who “wanted her for her eyes and skin,” according to Reuters and BBC News.
Joshlin has not been seen since her disappearance over a year ago.
The child’s fate remains unknown, but court testimony revealed horrifying allegations that her mother admitted to selling her daughter to a sangoma — a traditional healer — for ritual purposes.
During the trial, neighbor Lourentia Lombaard testified that Smith had confided in her, saying she “did something silly” and had sold Joshlin. Lombaard further testified that Smith offered hush money to people who were aware of her plan to sell the child.
A teacher of Joshlin also testified, recounting a disturbing conversation with Smith in which the mother said the child was “on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa.”
All three defendants — Smith, Appollis, and van Rhyn — denied the charges. However, overwhelming testimony and circumstantial evidence led to their convictions. The BBC reported that Kelly Smith broke down in tears as the guilty verdict was read aloud, while members of the public gallery applauded the court’s decision.
A woman initially believed to be the intended recipient of Joshlin — a suspected healer — had been arrested during the investigation but was later released due to a lack of evidence.
Sentencing has not yet been announced, but the trio faces the possibility of life imprisonment.
The conviction has renewed calls for awareness around child trafficking and ritual killings, which still persist in certain regions. Authorities continue their efforts to locate Joshlin and determine the full extent of the crime.
If you suspect child abuse or trafficking, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or visit www.childhelp.org. The service is confidential, available 24/7, and accessible in over 170 languages.
