A six-year-old girl who went missing last year was reportedly sought after by a “healer” for her light skin and eyes, a court has heard.
Joshlin Smith disappeared in February 2024, and her mother, Kelly Smith, is accused of being involved in her kidnapping in South Africa.
Joshlin, who has a fair complexion and turquoise eyes, vanished from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town. Her disappearance led to a major search effort, according to the BBC.
Kelly, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, have been charged with human trafficking and kidnapping. The three suspects have pleaded not guilty and remain in custody.
Shortly after Joshlin went missing, reports surfaced that Kelly was accused of selling her daughter for just over $1,000. During the first week of the trial, a local pastor testified that Kelly had previously spoken about selling her children for 20,000 rand, about $1,100.
A friend and neighbor, Lourentia Lombaard, also told the court that Kelly admitted to selling Joshlin to a “sangoma”—a traditional healer. Lombaard recalled that before Joshlin disappeared, she saw Kelly pack some of her daughter’s clothes into a black bag. She later saw Kelly get into a white car with Joshlin and a woman believed to be the sangoma. The car then drove away.
Lombaard also stated that “the person who took Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin,” though it was unclear why. A woman believed to be the sangoma was arrested last year but was later released due to a lack of evidence.
In South Africa, sangomas are legally recognized under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007. They are believed to connect with ancestral spirits to provide healing.
Despite an extensive search by police, firefighters, and specialized sniffer dog teams, Joshlin is still missing. Recently, authorities found children’s clothing near the area where she lived. The items, reportedly stained with blood, were sent for forensic testing. A knife was also discovered.
Prosecutors stated that Kelly and the others planned Joshlin’s abduction and intentionally sold or exchanged her. If convicted of human trafficking, the suspects could face life in prison.
As the suspects left the courthouse in Vredenburg, a crowd gathered outside, chanting, “Justice for Joshlin.” Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile said more arrests might follow, but their main focus remains on finding Joshlin.
“Our ultimate goal is to find the child,” he said. “We still want to find that child alive.”
Authorities have listed different spellings for the girl’s name, identifying her as both Joslin and Joshlin.
