South Africans Outraged as Witness Reveals How Kelly Sold Her 6-Year-Old Child Joshlin Smith for R20,000 to a Sangoma
South Africans are expressing outrage after a witness in the Joshlin Smith case testified that the six-year-old was sold to a sangoma for R20,000.
Lourentia “Renz” Lombaard, a former co-accused turned state witness, made the shocking claim in the Saldanha Bay High Court on Friday.
She testified that Joshlin’s mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, admitted to selling her daughter a day before she went missing.
“I caught on k*k. I sold my child to a sangoma,” Smith allegedly told Lombaard.
The revelation has sparked widespread anger, with many calling for justice for Joshlin.
Also Read: Joshlin Smith’s Mother Faces Public Outrage During Visit To Her Shack Settlement
Details on How Joshlin Smith was Sold
According to TimesLive, Lombaard told the court that she overheard Smith and her boyfriend, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis, discussing the money received from the sangoma.
“I heard her say to him, ‘Boeta, hier is die geld wat die sangoma gegee het [here is the money the sangoma gave],’” she said.
Witness Reveals How Kelly Sold Her 6-Year-Old Child Joshlin Smith for R20,000 to a Sangoma (Image Credit: News24)Appollis allegedly asked how much, to which Smith replied, “R20,000.”
According to Lombaard, Smith also revealed plans to divide the money, offering Lombaard R1,000 and another accused, Steveno van Rhyn, R1,200. The rest was to be shared between Smith and Appollis.
Also Read: Breakthrough in Joshlin Smith Case: New Evidence Emerges, Court Hearing Postponed
The Last Time Joshlin Was Seen
Lombaard recalled seeing Smith and Joshlin walking towards a white VW Polo, where a woman in green clothing with white dots on her face—whom Lombaard believed to be a sangoma—handed something to Smith.
The following day, Joshlin was reported missing.
Smith, Appollis, and Van Rhyn have pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.
Social Media Erupts with Fury: ‘She Doesn’t Deserve to Be a Mother’
The shocking testimony has sparked nationwide outrage, with many calling for the harshest punishment for Smith and her co-accused. As the news spread, social media users reacted with fury, labeling Smith as “evil” and “heartless.”
Many questioned how a mother could sell her own child, with some arguing that she does not deserve to be a mother.
Here are some of the reactions;
@MimosaYokwe;
I’m following the Joshlin Smith case and it’s just heartbreaking man 💔
I just can’t fathom how as a parent you could ever put your children’s lives in danger let alone sell them 💔💔💔
Pure evil!
@LisaMarieschoe1;
As a mother I just cannot get over the disappearance of Joshlin Smith. How evil can a mother be? How is it possible to follow through with something like this, never mind just have the thought? Its truly sickening and I hope this woman lives the rest of her life in jail😭
@Gina_and_tonic;
I am so sickened to read the headlines about Joshlin Smith’s mother’s trial. I can’t wait for them to convict that vile women and lock her away forever.
@KISSUGAMORE;
joshlin smith’s mom selling her child off because “life is hard and she needs the money…” we’re in a country where social grants are accessible, social services exists, my god there’s many other avenues— i hope she rots in hell actually