A young South African girl who disappeared last year at the age of six was sought by a traditional eye healer and a fair tan, heard the court.
This is one of the claims that appeared in the ongoing process against Joshlin Smith’s mother, Kelly Smith, who was accused of organizing her abduction.
G -ja Smith, her boyfriend Jacques Apalis and their friend Stephen Van Rin have pleaded guilty to accusations of human trafficking and abduction.
Joshlin’s disappearance in February 2024. Outside her home in Saldana Bay, near Cape Town, he sent shock waves to South Africa, and despite the highly advertised demand, it is yet to be found.
Initially, Mrs. Smith said that Joshlin, who had a lot of tan and blue-green eyes, had disappeared after leaving her in the care of Mr Apolis.
Later, prosecutors accused her of “sold, delivered or exchanging” the six-year-old and lied to her disappearance.
The test, which is now on the third week, takes place at a community center in Saldana.
During the first week of the trial, the court listened to details of the day Joshlin disappeared, including that Da Smith alarmed the police for more than six hours after the first time noticed that the young girl had disappeared.
The court also heard that she looks calm during the frantic demand and looks more concerned about the location of her boyfriend than about the missing child.
In the second week, more shocking details appeared.
A local pastor said that as early as 2023 he heard G -ja Smith – a mother of three years – talking about the sale of her children for $ 20,000 ($ 1,100, 850 British pounds), although she said she was ready to accept a lower number of $ 275.
Then Joshlin’s teacher claimed in court that Dja Smith had told her during the search that her daughter was already “on a ship, in a container, and they are on their way to West Africa.”
These discoveries have broken up compared to the explosive details made by Lourentia Lombaard, a friend and neighbor of Gja Smith, who has turned the state witness.
She took the position last Thursday and more than three days detailed the events at the beginning of Joshlin’s disappearance, including a traditional healer known in South Africa as Sandgoma.
D -Ju Lombaard claims that her friend confessed to her: “I did something stupid … I sold my child to Sangom” and I added that she was led by a desperate need for money.
Joshlin’s mother promised those who knew about the plan a little money in return for their silence, said G -Jz Lombard.
She told the court that she later witnessed G -ja Smith to pack some of Joshlin’s clothes in a black bag, which then saw her wear until the two went to meet a woman who D -Jj Lombard thinks she is Sangom.
Mother and daughter got in a white car and left with the woman, said G -Jz Lombard.
Speaking on Monday, his last day of the stand, D -Jj Lombaard told the court that “the person who [allegedly took] Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and her skin. “
It was not clear in court why Sangoma would like such a child.
A woman who is believed to be a traditional healer was originally arrested and charged with Mrs. Smith and her co-blamed last year, but the accusations against her eventually dropped out of lack of evidence.
Sangomas are legally recognized in South Africa under the 2007 traditional health doctors Act, in addition to herbalists, traditional fertility staff and traditional surgeons.
It is believed that the spirits of the ancestors are able to provide advice and healing through these culturally respected practitioners.
Some charlatans participate in unscrupulous traditional so -called medicines and are known to sell luck charms that include body parts.
D -Ja Lombard expressed sorrow because of her role in Joshlin’s disappearance, saying that she had tried without success to stop D -Ja Smith to sell her daughter.
She turned to anyone who took the young girl to “please return her alive.”
The process is expected to continue until March 28.
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