Latest news with #Joshlin
The Star
11 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
What happened to the maternal love?
On May 11th, South Africa took a moment to celebrate and remember mothers, acknowledging the comfort, care, and boundless love that mothers embody. Those fortunate enough to have experienced this special maternal love should indeed treasure those memories. However, the recent news surrounding two deeply disturbing cases stands in stark contrast to this sentiment. A six-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy became victims in profoundly troubling ways. Keneilwe Shalaba, the mother of the two-year-old, Kutlwano, appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court this week, accused of selling her son for R75 000. Tragically, Kutlwano, who had been missing since November of last year despite extensive searches, was found dead last week. A traditional healer is also expected to be implicated in this heartbreaking case. Adding to this sorrow is the case of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, who disappeared from her Saldanha Bay home on February 19, 2024. The court revealed that Joshlin was reportedly sold for R20 000. Her mother, Racquel ''Kelly'' Smith, along with her boyfriend and a family acquaintance, were found guilty in the Western Cape High Court and received life sentences. While justice may have been served in this instance, Joshlin herself remains missing. These cases, along with the countless others where children have suffered such fates at the hands of their mothers, are deeply distressing. While some commentators attribute these acts to poverty, it's important to remember the countless mothers who make immense sacrifices to provide for their children, working tirelessly in difficult conditions to ensure their well-being. We heard stories of mothers who sell toasted corn by the street corner to support their kids; and mothers walk the streets in the blazing sun, selling tripe, just to make sure that their children don't go to bed on an empty stomach. Ultimately, it seems that greed, with money as the driving force, lies at the heart of these unthinkable crimes.
eNCA
17 hours ago
- eNCA
Joshlin Smith's traffickers sentenced while the search continues
CAPE TOWN - In a landmark ruling that sent shock waves through South Africa, three individuals have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the trafficking and kidnapping of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, who remains missing more than 15 months after her disappearance. Judge Nathan Erasmus of the Western Cape High Court handed down sentence on 29 May to Joshlin's mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen "Boeta" Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn. Each received life imprisonment for human trafficking and an additional 10 years for kidnapping, with the sentences to run concurrently. The trio was convicted earlier this month after an eight-week trial that captivated the nation. The court heard damning testimony that Joshlin had been sold for R20,000 to a traditional healer who reportedly wanted the child for her "eyes and light skin". "The accused did not show remorse and up until the eve of sentencing, still lied," Judge Erasmus said during the sentencing. The Judge further noted that, 'With the overwhelming evidence against the accused, I could find no mitigating circumstances for the court to deviate from the minimum prescribed sentence'. In a packed courtroom at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Saldanha Bay, Judge Erasmus declared: "Even if I were not bound by a prescribed minimum sentence, I would still impose the harshest sentence possible. In weighing all the factors and circumstances, your actions reveal significant moral blameworthiness". The matter began on 19 February 19, 2024 when Joshlin disappeared from her home in the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay. Kelly Smith had claimed she left her daughter in the care of Appollis while she went to work, reporting the child missing when she returned that evening. What followed was one of South Africa's most extensive missing person investigations, involving more than 300 police officers, including 150 detectives, specialised units, K9 teams, helicopters, drones, and even the South African Navy. The search extended internationally through Interpol, including a two-and-a-half-day search of a ship in a London port after a reported sighting. Key testimony came from Lourencia "Renz" Lombaard, who turned state witness. She testified that Smith had confessed to selling Joshlin to a sangoma and had offered her R1,000 to keep quiet about the transaction. A local pastor also revealed that in 2023, Kelly Smith had spoken about plans to sell her three children for R20,000 each. The conviction represents a significant legal precedent in South Africa as it was the first successful prosecution for human trafficking where the victim has not been found. In an official government statement, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi welcomed the sentencing, calling it "a measure of justice in what has been one of the most distressing and emotionally charged cases in recent memory … Our hearts remain heavy for Joshlin and for every child who suffers harm ... No court ruling can undo the trauma or return what was lost. But today's sentence sends a strong and clear message that those who violate the innocence and trust of our children will face the full consequences of the law". The timing of the sentencing during National Child Protection Week added significance to the ruling. Despite the convictions and sentences, Joshlin's father and the community are disappointed she is still a missing person without any answers as to her whereabouts. Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, says the search for Joshlin is continuing. Meanwhile, the defence has indicated it plans to appeal the convictions and sentences. Van Rhyn's legal representative, Advocate Nobahle Mkabayi, maintains her client's innocence. As part of the sentencing, Judge Erasmus ordered the names of all three convicted individuals be entered into the National Child Protection Register, preventing them from having contact with children in the future. The case has had a profound impact on the Saldanha Bay community and the nation as a whole. Joshlin would be celebrating her eighth birthday in October 2025, but her whereabouts remain unknown. With the search for Joshlin Smith continuing, authorities are vowing not to rest until they discover what happened to her. by Nkateko Muloiwa
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Joshlin Smith case: WMACA urges more arrests
AVON Earn extra money. each month. Whatsapp your name. 082 680 6242 and I will. show you how Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) has welcomed the life sentences handed down to Kelly Smith and her co-accused in the harrowing case of six-year-old Joshlin Smith's disappearance. The case has become a chilling symbol of the ongoing crisis of child trafficking in South Africa. Joshlin Smith vanished and was reportedly sold for R20 000. The court found that Smith, along with two co-accused, conspired in the sale of the child. ALSO READ: You have a legal obligation to report child abuse – State Advocate While WMACA expresses satisfaction with the outcome of the trial, they firmly believe that more individuals were involved who have yet to face justice. 'There was a middleman, and there was a client. Someone wanted something from this child, and we still don't know who they are,' WMACA said. 'There are people who were nearby, who saw or heard things. Too many loose ends remain.' WMACA is calling on those convicted to come forward with the full truth now. With nothing left to lose, they urge the guilty to reveal the identities of any additional accomplices. One of the most disturbing aspects of the case, according to WMACA, is the involvement of Joshlin's mother. 'How does a mother even begin a conversation about selling her child? And how does that conversation lead to a buyer, whether for the entire child or body parts? It's diabolical.' ALSO READ: Bertha Gxowa creates awareness on child abuse Despite the absence of Joshlin's body, WMACA holds the convicted trio fully responsible for her disappearance, whether she is ultimately found alive or dead. 'Nothing less than a life sentence would have been acceptable,' the organisation stated. WMACA acknowledges and praises Judge Erasmus for delivering a sentence that sends a strong message. The organisation mourns that it took such a tragic and horrific case to bring attention to the horrors of child trafficking. 'Justice was served in court, but for Joshlin and countless other children who disappear without a trace, we may never know the full truth. We only wish that a little girl had not met such a gruesome fate for the world to take notice.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Joshlin Smith case: WMACA calls for additional arrests
Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) has welcomed the life sentences handed down to Kelly Smith and her co-accused in the harrowing case of six-year-old Joshlin Smith's disappearance. The case has become a chilling symbol of the ongoing crisis of child trafficking in South Africa. Joshlin Smith vanished and was reportedly sold for R20 000. The court found that Smith, along with two co-accused, conspired in the sale of the child. ALSO READ: You have a legal obligation to report child abuse – State Advocate While WMACA expresses satisfaction with the outcome of the trial, they firmly believe that more individuals were involved who have yet to face justice. 'There was a middleman, and there was a client. Someone wanted something from this child, and we still don't know who they are,' WMACA said. 'There are people who were nearby, who saw or heard things. Too many loose ends remain.' WMACA is calling on those convicted to come forward with the full truth now. With nothing left to lose, they urge the guilty to reveal the identities of any additional accomplices. One of the most disturbing aspects of the case, according to WMACA, is the involvement of Joshlin's mother. 'How does a mother even begin a conversation about selling her child? And how does that conversation lead to a buyer, whether for the entire child or body parts? It's diabolical.' ALSO READ: Bertha Gxowa creates awareness on child abuse Despite the absence of Joshlin's body, WMACA holds the convicted trio fully responsible for her disappearance, whether she is ultimately found alive or dead. 'Nothing less than a life sentence would have been acceptable,' the organisation stated. WMACA acknowledges and praises Judge Erasmus for delivering a sentence that sends a strong message. The organisation mourns that it took such a tragic and horrific case to bring attention to the horrors of child trafficking. 'Justice was served in court, but for Joshlin and countless other children who disappear without a trace, we may never know the full truth. We only wish that a little girl had not met such a gruesome fate for the world to take notice.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
South African mother sentenced to life in prison for selling her daughter
CAPE TOWN — A South African woman has been sentenced to life in prison for selling her 6-year-old daughter, who remains missing more than a year after her disappearance, in a case that has shocked the nation. Kelly Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and a friend, Steveno van Rhyn, were convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping and received life sentences for their roles in the crime. Each was also handed an additional 10-year sentence for kidnapping. The sentencing was delivered Thursday by Judge Nathan Erasmus at a sports center in the town of Saldanha Bay, northwest of Cape Town, where the trial had been relocated to accommodate local community members. Joshlin, Smith's daughter, vanished in February 2024. Her smiling photograph became a symbol of a nationwide search effort, initially prompting widespread sympathy for Smith. But the investigation took a dark turn when she and the two men were arrested. During the trial, a witness testified that Smith had confessed to selling her daughter to a traditional healer for approximately $1,000. The judge did not rule on the exact nature of the transaction or the buyer's identity but concluded that the child was trafficked for slavery or practices resembling slavery. Joshlin's whereabouts remain unknown, and the case continues to haunt the Saldanha Bay community. — Agencies
