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The Citizen
5 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
5 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!
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
WMACA calls for more arrests in Joshlin Smith case
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!
IOL News
07-05-2025
- IOL News
Joshlin Smith wasn't the only one: 2 963 children missing in South Africa
Joshlin Smith was last seen at her home in Middlepos on February 19, 2024. Joshlin Smith was last seen at her home in Middlepos on February 19, 2024. Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) is sounding the alarm over concerning statistics released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) that indicate over 17 000 citizens have been reported missing in the past five years, with 2 963 of those being children. Other figures reveal that 1 919 of these missing children are girls, pointing to a deepening crisis of child vulnerability, negligence, and exploitation in the country. 'At WMACA, we are appalled by the scale of this crisis,' says WMACA's Alex Talbot. 'The number of children who vanish, and remain unaccounted for, is a scar on the conscience of this country. The figures shared by SAPS are just the tip of the iceberg.' Talbot highlights this amid the heart-wrenching case of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, who went missing while under the care of her parents and is believed to have been trafficked for an alleged R20 000. Despite extensive media coverage and multiple arrests, Joshlin remains unaccounted for, symbolising the countless children who have fallen victim to exploitation, often overshadowed by our collective silence. Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, along with her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their accomplice Steveno van Rhyn, have been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking the young girl for exploitation. The Western Cape High Court has established that the evidence presented proved beyond reasonable doubt that these individuals had sold their daughter. The organisation says schools, communities, and society at large must collectively acknowledge that abduction and exploitation are not isolated incidents but rather daily realities affecting children across South Africa. 'We must teach our children, in age-appropriate and trauma-informed ways, how to be vigilant both offline and online. But ultimately, it is not solely the child's responsibility to ensure their safety. As adults, educators, and policymakers, we must construct systems that guarantee safety as a right, not a privilege.' It is further highlighted that these statistics do not include unreported cases, particularly in Johannesburg's inner city, where up to 20 foetuses or newborns are abandoned each month. These tragic circumstances reflect not only a failure in reporting but also a failure in valuing life by societal standards. According to Missing Children South Africa, a child is reported missing every five hours, with a troubling 23% of cases never resolved. Many of these children may fall prey to trafficking, murder, or abandonment, compounding the urgency for broader protective measures. To combat this crisis more effectively, Talbot suggests that there must be accountability for digital platforms, investments in school-based awareness programmes, and enhancements in reporting mechanisms like the SAPS Amber Alerts. Advocates are calling for greater visibility on cases that often slip through the cracks, stressing that the disappearance of almost 9 000 children in the last decade, with about 4 000 still missing, should deeply concern the nation. Saturday Star
