South African Mother Handed Life Sentence for Trafficking Her 6-Year-Old Daughter
WafricNews – June 4, 2025
Western Cape, South Africa – In a harrowing case that has gripped the nation, a South African mother and two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the trafficking of her young daughter, who has been missing since early 2024.
Kelly Smith, the mother of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, was convicted alongside her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their associate Steveno Van Rhyn. The trio faced charges of kidnapping and child trafficking, after Joshlin vanished from Saldanha Bay, a coastal town in the Western Cape.
Disturbing revelations emerged during the trial, including testimony from a witness who claimed Kelly admitted to selling her daughter to a sangoma (traditional healer) for R20,000 — approximately $1,100. The child was allegedly trafficked for ritual purposes, with specific interest in her "eyes and skin."
Despite widespread public outcry and an extensive manhunt by authorities, Joshlin Smith has yet to be found.
Delivering the verdict at the Western Cape High Court on Thursday, Judge Nathan Erasmus condemned the actions of the accused, dismissing their drug use as a mitigating factor.
“There is nothing in the conduct of the accused that warrants leniency,” Erasmus stated. “Their actions were calculated, heartless, and beyond forgiveness.”
All three received life sentences for human trafficking, and an additional 10-year sentence each for kidnapping.
This case has reignited urgent calls across South Africa for stronger protections for children and harsher penalties for those involved in ritual-related crimes.
By WafricNews Desk.
By WafricNews Desk.
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