30th May 2025 | Mulembe Times
Cape Town, South Africa – A harrowing case that gripped South Africa for over a year came to a tragic milestone on Thursday as a South African woman and two men were sentenced to life in prison for the trafficking of her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith. The young girl has not been found since her disappearance from Saldanha Bay, a coastal town in the Western Cape, in early 2024.
The convicted individuals – Kelly Smith, the mother of the child, Jacquen Appollis, her boyfriend, and Steveno Van Rhyn, a friend – were found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking. High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus handed each of them life sentences for the trafficking charge and an additional 10-year sentence for kidnapping.
In a court proceeding that left the nation stunned, key testimony came from a witness who claimed that Kelly Smith confessed to selling her daughter to a sangoma, a traditional healer, for 20,000 rand (approximately $1,100 USD). According to the witness, the child was targeted for her “eyes and skin” – suggesting a chilling motive rooted in ritualistic practices.
Judge Erasmus, while delivering the judgment, emphasized that the trio’s drug use was not a mitigating factor, stating, “There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming and deserving of a lesser sentence than the harshest I can impose.”
Joshlin’s disappearance sparked widespread outrage and sorrow across the country. The public followed the case closely, hoping for her safe return. Despite an intensive manhunt and ongoing efforts by police and volunteers, Joshlin has yet to be located, and her fate remains unknown.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution built a damning case. Witnesses provided disturbing accounts of neglect and drug abuse in the household, where Kelly Smith was said to be deeply addicted to methamphetamine, commonly known as “tik” in South Africa. Investigators believe the child’s sale may have been motivated by a combination of desperation, drug influence, and belief in sangoma rituals promising wealth or power.
The case ignited renewed debate in South Africa about the intersection of poverty, substance abuse, and traditional beliefs, particularly where vulnerable children are concerned. Child protection activists called for stricter monitoring of at-risk families and more robust law enforcement in rural areas, where communities often rely on traditional healers.
“We have to face the brutal truth that children in poor and marginalized communities are the most at risk,” said Zanele Mahlangu, director of the non-profit Children First SA. “Joshlin’s case is not isolated – it’s a symptom of a broader societal failure.”
Joshlin’s family members have expressed deep grief and disbelief. Her biological father, who was estranged from Kelly Smith, has reportedly called for continued efforts to find his daughter and ensure that no other child suffers a similar fate.
The case has also raised international concern. Human rights organizations have called on South Africa to increase funding for child protection services and investigate the possible existence of trafficking rings operating under the guise of traditional healing practices.
In the Western Cape and beyond, people gathered on Thursday night to hold candlelight vigils in Joshlin’s memory and call for justice for other missing children. Despite the sentencing, the heartbreak continues for a nation left without answers.
Joshlin Smith would have turned seven this year.
