A young South African girl, who was missing last year, was allegedly seeking her eyes and skin tone by a traditional therapist, the court heard.
This is the allegation that emerged in the ongoing trial of Joshlin Smith’s mother, Kelly Smith, who was accused of plotting a kidnapping.
Ms. Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn pleaded not guilty to the charges of human trafficking and kidnapping.
Joshlin, who disappeared from her home outside her Saldanha Bay in Cape Town in February 2024, sent shockwaves in South Africa, sent her yet to find her despite high publicity.
Ms. Smith initially said that Joshlin had a reasonable complexion and a turquoise eye, and she disappeared after she remained in the care of Appollis.
Prosecutors later accused her of “selling, delivering or exchanging” the six-year-old and lied about her disappearance.
The trial is now in its third week and will be held in a community centre in Saldaha.
In the first week of the trial, the court heard details about the date of Joshlyn’s disappearance, including Ms. Smith’s reminder of police just over six hours after she first noticed the young girl’s disappearance.
The court also learned that she showed peace in the crazy search, and seemed to be more worried about her boyfriend’s whereabouts than the missing child.
More shocking details appeared in the second week.
A local pastor said he had heard Ms. Smith (mother of three) talk about selling her children for rand 20,000 ($1,100,850), as early as 2023, although she said she was willing to accept the lower number $275.
Joshlin’s teacher then accused Ms. Smith of the searches that her daughter had been “on the boat, inside the container, on their way to West Africa”.
These revelations pale compared to the details of the explosion done by Ms. Smith’s friend and neighbor Lourentia Lombard.
She picked up the stands last Thursday, more than three days, detailing the disappearance of Joshlin, which involved a traditional therapist known as “Sangoma” in South Africa.
Ms. Lombakad claimed that her friend admitted to her: “I did something stupid…I sold the child to Sangoma”, adding that she was driven by a desperate need for money.
Ms. Lombakad said Joshlyn’s mother promised some money to those who knew the plan in exchange for their silence.
She told the court that she later witnessed Ms. Smith packing clothes for Joshlin into black bags, and then she saw her carry as the two walked to meet a woman, Ms. Lombaard, who thought it was Sangoma.
Ms. Lombakad said the mother and daughter got into a white car and drove to the woman.
Ms Lombakad said on Monday that she told the court on her last day in the stands, [allegedly took] Joshlyn wants her eyes and skin”.
It is not clear in court why Sangoma wants such a child.
A woman believed to be a traditional therapist was initially arrested and charged with Ms. Smith and was charged at the same time last year, but the charges against her were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence.
According to the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, Sangomas is legally recognized in South Africa, along with herbalists, traditional biological waiters and traditional surgeons.
It is believed that the spirit of ancestors can provide advice and rehabilitation through these culturally respected practitioners.
Although some Charals are involved in immoral traditional so-called therapy, and are well known to sell good luck charms involving body parts.
Ms. Lombard grieved her role in Joshlyn’s disappearance, saying she had tried without success, preventing Ms. Smith from selling her daughter.
She called for the young girl to be brought to “Please bring her back to life.”
The trial is expected to continue until March 28.
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