A young South African girl who disappeared last year aged six was allegedly sought by a traditional healer for her eyes and fair complexion, a court has heard. This is among the allegations that have emerged at the ongoing trial of Joshlin Smith's mother, Kelly Smith, who has been accused of orchestrating her kidnapping. Ms Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn have pleaded not guilty to charges of human trafficking and kidnapping.
Joshlin's disappearance in February 2024 from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, sent shockwaves across South Africa and, despite a highly publicised search for her, she is yet to be found. Ms Smith initially claimed that Joshlin, who has a fair complexion and blue-green eyes, had gone missing after she had left her in Mr Appollis' care. Prosecutors later accused her of having "sold, delivered or exchanged" the six-year-old and lied about her disappearance.
The trial, which is now in its third week, is being held at a community centre in Saldanha. During the first week of the trial, the court heard details about the day Joshlin went missing. Ms Smith only alerted the police more than six hours after she had first noted that the young girl had disappeared. The court also heard that she appeared calm during the frantic search and seemed more concerned about her boyfriend's whereabouts than the missing child.
More shocking claims emerged in the second week. A local pastor stated that as far back as 2023, Ms Smith, a mother of three, had spoken of selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100, £850) each, though she had said she was willing to accept a lower figure of $275. Joshlin's teacher then alleged in court that Ms Smith 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 pale in comparison to the explosive details made by Lourentia Lombaard, a friend and neighbour of Ms Smith, who became a state witness. She took the stand last Thursday and, over three days, detailed the events leading up to Joshlin's disappearance that involved a traditional healer, known in South Africa as a "sangoma." Ms Lombaard alleged that her friend confessed to her, saying, "I did something silly … I sold my child to a sangoma", adding that she had been driven by a desperate need for money. Joshlin's mother promised those who knew of the plan some money in return for their silence, Ms Lombaard said. She testified that she later witnessed Ms Smith pack some clothes for Joshlin into a black bag, which she then saw her carry as the two walked to meet a woman Ms Lombaard believes was the sangoma. Mother and daughter got into a white car and drove away with the woman, Ms Lombaard said.
Speaking on Monday, her last day on the stand, Ms Lombaard told the court that the "person who [allegedly took] Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin." It was not made clear in court why a sangoma would want a child like this. A woman believed to be a traditional healer was initially arrested and charged alongside Ms Smith and her co-accused last year, but the charges against her were eventually dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Sangomas are legally recognised in South Africa under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, alongside herbalists, traditional birth attendants and traditional surgeons. It is believed that ancestral spirits can provide advice and healing through these culturally respected practitioners. However, some charlatans unscrupulously involved in traditional so-called cures have been known to sell good luck charms that incorporate body parts.
Ms Lombaard expressed sorrow over her role in Joshlin's disappearance, saying that she had tried, without success, to stop Ms Smith from selling her daughter. She appealed to whoever had taken the young girl to "please bring her back alive". The trial is expected to run until March 28, 2025.
During the ongoing trial, a state witness's credibility has come under scrutiny. Laurentia Lombaard, the witness who alleged that Kelly Smith sold her daughter Joshlin to a sangoma for her eyes and light skin, has had her reliability questioned by the defense. The prosecution has called 18 witnesses so far, with one of them, a school volunteer, testifying about a heated argument she witnessed on February 18, 2024, between Kelly Smith and her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis. The volunteer said she saw Smith pulling Joshlin by the arm so hard that the little girl lost one of her flip flops.
Lombaard has been depicted as an unreliable drug addict during copious cross-examinations, which appears to be an attempt to undermine her testimony. She admitted to taking drugs two to three times daily, a fact that the defense has vehemently pointed out during questioning.
In closing, the ongoing trial concerning Joshlin Smith's disappearance has unveiled shocking allegations surrounding her mother's actions and intentions. The case has drawn nationwide attention and continues to unfold with new revelations and witnesses, leaving the fate of the missing girl uncertain, and the community in distress as they await justice.
