In a disturbing case from South Africa, Kelly Smith and two accomplices were sentenced to life imprisonment for the trafficking of her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith. The child disappeared last year from their township in the Western Cape, and during the trial, it was revealed that Smith sold her daughter to a traditional healer for 20,000 rand. The judge deemed the defendants' drug use as no justification for their actions. Despite extensive searches, Joshlin has yet to be found, prompting critical discussions about crime and safety for children in the country.
During the trial, Kelly Smith reportedly confessed to selling her daughter to a sangoma for 20,000 rand, claiming her child was desired for her eyes and skin.
High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus emphasized that drug use by the defendants was not a valid excuse, asserting, 'There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming and deserving of a lesser sentence.'
Despite extensive search efforts, the missing child, Joshlin Smith, has not been found, raising concerns about her safety and well-being.
The case sparked nationwide outrage as it revealed the extreme nature of child trafficking and the horrors families face in South Africa.
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