South African Mother Convicted of Selling 6-Year-Old Daughter; Child Still Missing

WESTERN CAPE, South Africa — A South African woman has been convicted in a case that has shocked the nation and drawn renewed attention to child trafficking after her six-year-old daughter disappeared more than a year ago.

Joshlin Smith went missing in February 2024 from her home in the Western Cape. Her mother, Kelly Smith, has now been found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking after prosecutors proved she sold the child to a traditional healer.

According to international reports, Smith was convicted alongside her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their associate, Steveno van Rhyn. All three now face the possibility of life imprisonment. Joshlin’s whereabouts remain unknown.

During the trial, a neighbor testified that Smith spoke openly about plans to sell her daughter shortly before the child vanished. The court also heard that Smith later admitted to the same neighbor that she sold Joshlin to a sangoma, a local term for a traditional healer, and allegedly offered money to keep the matter quiet.

Further testimony came from Joshlin’s teacher, who told the court that Smith once claimed her daughter was “on a ship, inside a container,” allegedly bound for West Africa. That statement deepened concerns as investigators pieced together the case.

Smith reportedly broke down in tears as the guilty verdict was read. The case has sparked widespread outrage and media attention across South Africa, shining a harsh spotlight on the ongoing issue of child trafficking and the vulnerability of minors.

Authorities say investigations remain ongoing as efforts continue to determine Joshlin’s fate.