The town of Saldanha Bay in South Africa has been rocked by a tragedy that feels more like a nightmare than real life. A little girl named Joshlin, just six years old, went missing over a year ago. Now, her mother, Kelly Smith, has been found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her.
Yes, you read that right, her mother.
Along with her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, Kelly was arrested not long after Joshlin disappeared in February 2023. All three claimed they were innocent. But the court didn't buy it.
The news shook the entire country. People hoped and prayed Joshlin would be found. But as of today, she’s still missing.
During the trial, the story that unfolded was nothing short of chilling. Prosecutors said Kelly sold her daughter, or let's say “exchanged” her to someone for money. Possibly to a sangoma, a traditional healer. Why? According to testimony, it was for her eyes and skin. Yes, it's as horrifying as it sounds.
A neighbour and once-close friend, Lourentia Lombaard, turned witness and shared what Kelly allegedly confessed, that she’d done “something silly” and handed Joshlin over. Later, a pastor testified that Kelly had once joked or maybe not joked, about selling her children for money. A schoolteacher said Kelly even told her that Joshlin was already “on a ship in a container, heading to West Africa.”
How does a mother do that?
“The love of money is the root of all evil”.
When the verdict came in, Kelly cried. Van Rhyn smiled, strangely. The courtroom, packed with locals, broke into applause. Some wept. No one cheered because they were happy. They were relieved that at least some justice might come. All three now face life in prison.
The judge made sure the trial was public, holding it in a community centre so everyone could see justice being served. Outside, roads were closed and police stood watch, bracing for the community’s reaction.
Still, Joshlin hasn’t been found.
“It takes a village to raise a child,” they say. But sometimes that same village has to step up when a parent becomes a danger. In Middelpos, where Joshlin lived, parents are now living in fear. Who can blame them?
Kelly’s lawyer tried to question the witnesses’ credibility. But neither Kelly nor her two co-accused even bothered to speak up or call anyone to their defence. Silence can say a lot.
It’s important to note that not all traditional healers are criminals. South Africa’s law even recognises sangomas. But like any profession, there are bad apples. Some use tradition as a mask for horror.
“Evil thrives when good people do nothing”.
Now, more than a year later, the country is still asking. Where is Joshlin?
And perhaps even more hauntingly. How many other children are suffering in silence?
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