South African Mother Sold Daughter to Witch Doctor for Her Eyes and Skin [WATCH]

A South African woman and two men have been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of a six-year-old girl.

The child, Joshlin Smith, remains missing months after vanishing from the coastal town of Saldanha Bay, located approximately 120 miles from Cape Town.

Racquel “Kelly” Smith, the mother of the missing child, was arrested in March 2024 alongside her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and a second man, Steveno van Rhyn.

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All three were found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking.

Breaking News: Joshlin Smith three convicted kidnappers Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn have been sentenced to life imprisonment for human trafficking and 10 years for kidnapping.

Joshlin please come home #womenforchange pic.twitter.com/7T7c58AMYQ

— Women For Change (@womenforchange5) May 29, 2025

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The presiding judge, Nathan Erasmus, sentenced each of the defendants to 10 years for kidnapping and life imprisonment for human trafficking.

Joshlin disappeared in February 2024. At the time, Smith made public pleas for help and drew widespread sympathy as a search effort unfolded across the region.

Local volunteers joined police in scouring sand dunes, distributing posters, and raising awareness in hopes of finding the missing child.

Authorities confirmed Thursday that the investigation into her disappearance remains active and has now expanded beyond South Africa’s borders.

Public opinion quickly shifted after authorities charged Smith and the others in connection to Joshlin’s disappearance.

During the trial, multiple witnesses testified that Smith had spoken openly about selling her daughter to a traditional healer, known locally as a “sangoma,” who reportedly sought the child for her green eyes and light complexion.

Kelly Smith’s mom: “I begged her to tell the truth about Joshlin”

Amanda Daniels-Smith, the mother of Racquel “Kelly” Smith, who was convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking, has publicly shared her heartbreak over her daughter’s decision to sell her six-year-old daughter,… pic.twitter.com/r0ZDgXeLlD

— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) May 28, 2025

The alleged buyer has not been identified or located.

The case has drawn national and international attention, not only due to the disturbing details surrounding the girl’s disappearance but also because of the broader implications for South Africa’s ongoing struggles with child trafficking.

Evil mother sold her daughter Joshlin Smith, 6, to a healer who wanted her green eyes and light skin. Joshlin was not seen again. Mother was jailed. There are so many evil people in this world. pic.twitter.com/k0IEG9bnjX

— Frightfully Right (@Based_Brit_02) May 31, 2025

Testimony in court revealed that Smith had discussed the alleged plan to sell her daughter as early as 2023.

A former teacher and a local pastor testified that Smith had shared details about the possible sale.

Lourentia Lombaard, a neighbor, said Smith admitted after Joshlin’s disappearance, “I did something silly … I sold my child to a sangoma,” citing financial desperation as the motive.

During sentencing, Judge Erasmus said, “There is nothing I can find that is redeeming and deserving of a lesser sentence than the harshest I can impose.”

South African police recorded over 17,000 kidnapping cases in the last year alone, reflecting an 11% increase compared to the previous year.

Many of these incidents are linked to organized human trafficking operations, and law enforcement officials acknowledge that a significant number of cases likely go unreported.

Authorities believe that most trafficking victims in South Africa are children forced into labor or sexual exploitation.

Domestic servitude and agricultural labor are among the most common forms of trafficking, particularly affecting girls and boys from economically vulnerable communities.

Police confirmed that the search for Joshlin remains ongoing, and international cooperation has been requested in hopes of identifying leads that may reveal her whereabouts.

Despite the life sentences handed down, public outrage continues.

Activists and concerned citizens are urging the South African government to strengthen enforcement and expand protections for at-risk children.

Joshlin Smith has not been found, and police are asking anyone with information to contact the South African Police Service or the local authorities in Saldanha Bay.

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