Grandmother Pleads as Mom Gets Life for Selling Daughter’s ‘Eyes and Skin’

SALDANHA BAY, South Africa – The desperate search for six-year-old Joshlin Smith continues, even as her mother, Kelly Smith, was handed a life sentence yesterday for her involvement in the child’s disappearance. The devastating case has gripped South Africa, revealing a chilling tale of alleged human trafficking where a mother is accused of selling her own child for a paltry sum, reportedly for her “eyes and skin.”

In a gut-wrenching scene in court, Joshlin’s grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, made a tearful plea to her incarcerated daughter, “Bring my grandchild back or tell me where she is.” Speaking to Newzroom Arikka, Smith-Daniels expressed the profound grief that has shattered her family, stating, “I don’t feel that any sentence they get will bring my grandchild back.”

Joshlin vanished in February last year from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, a coastal town not far from Cape Town. What began as a nationwide manhunt quickly spiraled into a disturbing criminal investigation.

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Yesterday, Judge Nathan Erasmus sentenced the 35-year-old Kelly Smith to life imprisonment for human trafficking and an additional 10 years for kidnapping. Her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and friend Steveno van Rhyn also received life sentences for their roles in the heinous crime.

Harrowing testimonies presented during the trial painted a grim picture. A local pastor recounted hearing Kelly Smith, whose full name was identified as Racquel Chantel Smith in court, discuss selling her three children in 2023, even willing to accept as little as $275 for one.

Perhaps the most chilling revelation came from Lourentia Lombaard, a friend and neighbor of Smith, who alleged in court that the mother had sold Joshlin to a “sangoma,” a traditional African healer. Lombaard claimed the “person who allegedly took Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin.” This detail has fueled widespread outrage and speculation about the sinister motives behind the child’s disappearance.

Further unsettling testimony emerged from Joshlin’s teacher, who told the jury that during the initial stages of the national search, Kelly Smith claimed her daughter was “on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa.” This statement, coupled with over 30 witnesses sharing horrifying insights, deepened the mystery surrounding Joshlin’s fate.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has stated that the severe sentence underscores the fact that Joshlin was “sold and delivered to the intended buyer” for the purpose of “exploitation, namely slavery or practices similar to slavery.”

Despite the convictions, the primary focus remains on finding Joshlin. Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile affirmed the ongoing commitment: “We will not rest until we find out what happened to Joshlin. We are continuing day and night looking for her.”

The community of Saldanha Bay, along with the entire nation, holds its breath, hoping for a miracle that will bring Joshlin home and provide some measure of closure to her heartbroken grandmother and family.