Saldanha Bay, South Africa — The mysterious disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith has gripped international attention and sparked outrage across South Africa, as her mother and two accomplices were found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking. Despite the verdict, the young girl’s whereabouts remain unknown more than a year after she vanished.
Joshlin was last seen in February 2024 in her coastal hometown of Saldanha Bay, located roughly 75 miles north of Cape Town. Known for her fair complexion and vibrant turquoise eyes, the child quickly became the face of a nationwide campaign for missing persons. Search efforts mobilized communities and emergency crews, sweeping across neighborhoods, dunes, and beaches. Yet, no trace of the child has ever been recovered.
The heartbreaking case took a disturbing turn when her mother, Kelly Smith (legal name Racquel Chantel Smith), her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and friend Steveno van Rhyn were arrested weeks later. Prosecutors accused the trio of selling Joshlin to a traditional healer — known locally as a sangoma — allegedly motivated by financial desperation and a chilling belief that the child’s appearance made her desirable for ritual use.
All three defendants denied the allegations, pleading not guilty.
Key testimony came from neighbors who shared unsettling encounters and confessions. Lourentia Lombaard, a longtime friend of Smith’s, testified that the mother had privately admitted: “I did something silly. I sold my child to a sangoma.” Lombaard further claimed that Smith packed Joshlin’s belongings into a black trash bag and attempted to bribe neighbors into silence.
Another resident, Paulina Tshosa, recalled witnessing a struggle outside a shack, during which Joshlin lost a flip-flop. Tshosa said she realized the significance of the incident only after seeing Joshlin’s face in news reports.
Perhaps the most disturbing revelation came from Joshlin’s teacher, who testified that Kelly Smith once claimed her daughter had been taken onto a container ship bound for West Africa. Prosecutors revealed Smith made similar statements to others throughout the investigation, feeding suspicions that Joshlin had been trafficked across borders.
The court also heard from a local pastor who recounted an alarming conversation overheard a year prior to the disappearance, during which Smith allegedly spoke of selling her children for as little as 5,000 rand — roughly $275 USD.
On May 2, 2025, the verdict was announced at the Saldanha Multipurpose Centre, where the trial was relocated due to intense public interest. Judge Nathan Erasmus found all three defendants guilty of kidnapping and trafficking, describing the evidence as “overwhelming in its intent and deception.”
As the verdict was delivered, a packed courtroom erupted in a mix of applause, sobs, and silent disbelief. Smith wept. Van Rhyn smiled oddly. Outside, large crowds gathered, chanting, “We want Joshlin back!”
Joshlin’s paternal grandmother, Louretta Yon, responded to the verdict with restrained satisfaction. “I’m relieved they were convicted,” she said. “But justice won’t be complete until Joshlin is found. I still believe Kelly knows what happened. She refused to testify. That speaks volumes.”
While the alleged sangoma was detained early in the case, authorities later released the woman due to insufficient evidence. Her identity has never been publicly confirmed. Investigators insist the search for Joshlin continues, but there have been no new leads or arrests.
The case has reignited national conversations about child safety, the vulnerability of impoverished families, and the misuse of traditional spiritual practices. While sangomas hold legal status and cultural significance in South Africa, some individuals have exploited the tradition to commit violent or ritualistic crimes, drawing renewed scrutiny from both lawmakers and civil society.
In the community of Middelpos, where Joshlin once lived, parents have told reporters they now fear for their own children’s safety. “This has changed everything,” one resident told a local outlet.
As the convicted await sentencing, which could include life in prison, the emotional toll on Joshlin’s extended family remains visible. Amanda Daniels-Smith, the child’s grandmother on her mother’s side, summed up the prevailing sentiment: “I just want to know where she is. No prison term can fix that. I want Kelly to speak. I don’t want to see her — I want answers.”
With public outrage growing and no sign of Joshlin, the haunting question remains: where is she?