A 6-year-old girl with distinctive green eyes and pale skin has gone missing from her home in South Africa, raising concerns that she may have been targeted for her unique features. Reports suggest that the girl, named Joshlin Smith, may have been sold to a local traditional healer who allegedly expressed interest in her eye and skin color.
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The disturbing details emerged during the criminal trial against the missing girl’s mother, Kelly Smith. A neighbour testified that Kelly had confided in her about a plan to sell Joshlin to a traditional healer who specifically sought out individuals with Joshlin’s eye and skin colour. The neighbour’s testimony has shed light on the possible motives behind the young girl’s disappearance.
Kelly Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, are currently facing kidnapping and human trafficking charges in the High Court in Saldanha on the Cape West Coast. Despite pleading not guilty, the trio has been implicated in the alleged scheme to sell Joshlin to the traditional healer.
Witnesses, including neighbours and one of Joshlin’s teachers, have testified in court about Kelly Smith’s purported plan to sell her daughter or other children for financial gain. One neighbour alleged that Smith had admitted to selling Joshlin to a healer known as a “sangoma” and had offered money to those aware of the plan in exchange for their silence.
During the trial, another neighbour testified that she had seen Smith dragging Joshlin into a shack during an argument the night before the young girl went missing. Additionally, Joshlin’s teacher recalled Smith claiming that her daughter was on a ship heading to West Africa during the search for the missing girl, adding more mystery to the case.
While the investigation continues, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported that a woman believed to be a healer was arrested and questioned in connection with Joshlin’s disappearance but was subsequently released due to a lack of evidence. The case has sparked public outcry and renewed calls for justice for Joshlin and other missing children.
The troubling circumstances surrounding Joshlin Smith’s disappearance have highlighted the vulnerability of children in society and the need for stronger protections against human trafficking and exploitation. The trial proceedings are ongoing, with the hope that the truth will be revealed and justice will be served for the missing girl and her family.