Kidnapping and Trafficking of Joshlin Smith
In 2024 a little girl named Joshlin Smith disappeared in South Africa. She was just six years old. As of the recording of this episode, she still hasn't been found.
By the time her case reached trial, it had become one of the most closely watched criminal proceedings in recent South African history. Many people would go on to draw comparisons to Madeleine McCann's disappearance in Portugal (another case where a young child's vanishing gripped an entire country's attention for years).
Police would soon find out Joshlin’s wasn’t a tragic disappearance, it was human trafficking perpetrated by the people closest to Joshlin.
Photo Credits: BBC, CNN, Gallo Images via Getty Images, Daily Maverick
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allAfrica.com. "South Africa: 6-Year-Old Joshlin Smith's Mother, Co-Accused Found Guilty." AllAfrica, 2 May 2025, allafrica.com/stories/202505020374.html.
BBC News Africa. "Tears and Heartbreak Over Tragic Story of South African Girl Sold by Her Mother." Yahoo News Australia, 29 May 2025, au.news.yahoo.com/tears-heartbreak-over-tragic-story-020123537.html.
Cape Town Etc. "Tears Flow as Joshlin Smith's Loved Ones Speak in Court." Cape Town Etc, 28 May 2025, www.capetownetc.com/news/tears-flow-as-joshlin-smiths-loved-ones-speak-in-court/.
CBS News. "Mother Who Sold 6-Year-Old Daughter for $1,000 to Traditional Healer Is Convicted in South Africa." CBS News, 2 May 2025, www.cbsnews.com/news/kelly-smith-convicted-kidnapping-human-trafficking-daughter-south-africa.
CBS News. "South African Woman Gets Life Sentence for Selling Her 6-Year-Old Daughter." CBS News, 29 May 2025, www.cbsnews.com/news/south-african-sold-6-year-old-daughter-joshlin-smith-life-sentence/.
Central News South Africa. "No Official Update in Missing Joshlin Smith Case Despite McKenzie's Claims, Police Dismiss Claims of Breakthrough." Central News South Africa, 8 Jan. 2026, centralnews.co.za/no-official-update-in-missing-joshlin-smith-case-despite-mckenzies-claims-police-dismiss-claims-of-breakthrough/.
CNN. "Joshlin Smith: South African Mother Given Life Sentence for Trafficking 6-Year-Old Daughter." CNN, 29 May 2025, www.cnn.com/2025/05/29/africa/south-african-mother-trafficking-sentence-intl.
Daily Maverick. "Courtroom in Tears as Shattered Community Describes the Effect of Joshlin Smith's Disappearance." Daily Maverick, 28 May 2025, www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-28-courtroom-in-tears-as-shattered-community-describes-the-effect-of-joshlin-smiths-disappearance/.
Daily Maverick. "Final Verdict Delivered: Life Sentences for Trio in Joshlin Smith Kidnapping Case." Daily Maverick, 29 May 2025, www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-29-final-verdict-delivered-life-sentences-for-trio-in-joshlin-smith-kidnapping-case/.
Daily Maverick. "Joshlin 'Is in the Informal Settlement,' Kelly Smith Allegedly Told Her Sister." Daily Maverick, 17 Mar. 2025, www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-17-joshlin-is-here-in-the-informal-settlement-kelly-smith-allegedly-told-her-saps-sister/.
DFA. "Joshlin Smith Appeal Hearing: Lawyer Questions Evidence in Appollis' Conviction for Child's Kidnapping." DFA, 12 Aug. 2025, dfa.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2025-08-12-joshlin-smith-appeal-hearing-lawyer-questions-evidence-in-appollis-conviction-for-childs-kidnapping/.
eNCA. "Joshlin Smith | Charges Withdrawn Against Accused No.4." eNCA, 13 Mar. 2024, www.enca.com/top-stories/joshlin-smith-charges-withdrawn-against-accused-no4.
eNCA. "Joshlin Smith's Traffickers Sentenced While the Search Continues." eNCA, 29 May 2025, www.enca.com/opinion/joshlin-smiths-traffickers-sentenced-while-search-continues.
eNCA. "Timeline: The Disappearance of Joshlin Smith." eNCA, 26 Feb. 2025, www.enca.com/top-stories/timeline-disappearance-joshlin-smith.
EWN. "[WATCH] One Girl, Three Accused, a Nation Watching — The Joshlin Smith Trial Timeline." Eyewitness News, 27 May 2025, www.ewn.co.za/watch-one-girl-three-accused-a-nation-watching-the-joshlin-smith-trial-timeline/.
EWN. "Joshlin Smith Trial: State Prosecutors Expected to Wrap Up Case Against Accused." Eyewitness News, 23 Apr. 2025, www.ewn.co.za/2025/04/23/joshlin-smith-trial-state-prosecutors-expected-to-wrap-up-case-against-accused.
EWN. "Joshlin Smith's Mother Breaks Down in Tears as Victim Impact Statements Read Out in Court." Eyewitness News, 28 May 2025, www.ewn.co.za/2025/05/28/joshlin-smiths-mother-breaks-down-in-tears-as-victim-impact-statements-read-out-in-court.
Human Trafficking Search. "Guilty — Mother in South Africa Sold Her Daughter into Slavery." Human Trafficking Search, 30 May 2025, humantraffickingsearch.org/resource/guilty-mother-in-south-africa-sold-her-daughter-into-slavery/.
IOL. "'You Always Came to Me Because I Had to Kiss Your Sore Spots': Woman Who Wanted to Adopt Joshlin Smith Breaks Down in Court." IOL, 28 May 2025, iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2025-05-28-you-always-came-to-me-because-i-had-to-kiss-your-sore-spots-woman-who-wanted-to-adopt-joshlin-smith-breaks-down-in-court/.
IOL. "Joshlin Smith | Judge Erasmus Did Not Mince His Words During Sentencing of Kelly Smith and Co-Accused." IOL, 29 May 2025, iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2025-05-29-joshlin-smith-judge-erasmus-does-not-mince-his-words-during-sentencing-of-kelly-and-co-accused/.
IOL. "Joshlin Smith Case Nears Verdict Following Disturbing Testimonies." IOL, 29 Apr. 2025, iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2025-04-29-joshlin-smith-case-nears-verdict-following-disturbing-testimonies/.
IOL. "Joshlin Smith Trafficking Trial: Grandmother Clings to Hope as Shocking Details Emerge." IOL, 14 Mar. 2025, www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/joshlin-smith-trafficking-trial-grandmother-clings-to-hope-as-shocking-details-emerge-5efa51b7-35f9-4593-8c7b-ecbc0cf7431a. (Includes testimony of neighbor Namhla Tinzi.)
IOL. "Joshlin Smith Trial | Police Officer Sister Reveals Kelly Smith's Contradictory Claims." IOL, 17 Mar. 2025, iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2025-03-17-joshlin-smith-trial-police-officer-sister-reveals-kelly-smiths-contradictory-claims/.
IOL. "Joshlin Smith Two Years Later: Where Is She and Will We Ever Find Her?" IOL, 19 Feb. 2026, iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2026-02-19-joshlin-smith-two-years-later-where-is-she-and-will-we-ever-find-her/.
IOL. "Joshlin Smith's Father Collapses in Court." IOL, 11 Mar. 2025, www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/joshlin-smiths-father-collapses-in-court-d142c72b-7029-4e59-8326-f6e1ec752bc2.
IOL. "Joshlin's Father Wants Custody of Other Daughter." IOL, 4 Mar. 2024, iol.co.za/capeargus/news/joshlins-father-wants-custody-of-other-daughter-21c7849a-ed3c-4ee9-8bec-7f9f0e89fd58/.
Jacaranda FM. "Kelly Smith Claimed Joshlin Was Trafficked to West Africa." Jacaranda FM, 12 Mar. 2025, www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/kelly-smith-claimed-joshlin-was-trafficked-west-africa/.
Knysna-Plett Herald. "Joshlin Smith Trial: State Insists 6-Year-Old Was Sold for R20k in Closing Arguments." Knysna-Plett Herald, 30 Apr. 2025, www.knysnaplettherald.com/News/Article/National-News/joshlin-smith-trial-state-insists-6-year-old-was-sold-for-r20k-in-closing-arguments-202504300814.
Mail & Guardian. "Kelly Smith Told Teacher Joslin Was Kidnapped by Nigerians." Mail & Guardian, 12 Mar. 2025, mg.co.za/news/2025-03-12-kelly-smith-told-teacher-joslin-was-kidnapped-by-nigerians/.
MyJoyOnline. "Tears and Heartbreak Over Tragic Story of South African Girl Sold by Her Mother." MyJoyOnline, 29 May 2025, www.myjoyonline.com/tears-and-heartbreak-over-tragic-story-of-south-african-girl-sold-by-her-mother/.
News24. "Joshlin Smith's Dad Collapses in Court While Social Worker Testifies." News24, 11 Mar. 2025, www.news24.com/southafrica/news/joshlin-smiths-dad-collapses-in-court-while-social-worker-testifies-20250311.
“NPA Welcomes Conviction in Case of Disappearance of Joshlin Smith.” National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa, https://www.npa.gov.za/media/npa-welcomes-conviction-case-disappearance-joshlin-smith.
SA People. "Joslin's Father Collapses in Court as Drug and Abuse Allegations Emerge." SA People, 12 Mar. 2025, www.sapeople.com/news/joslins-father-collapses-in-court-as-drug-and-abuse-allegations-emerge/.
SAnews. "Government Welcomes Sentencing in Joshlin Smith Case." South African Government News Agency, 30 May 2025, www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-welcomes-sentencing-joshlin-smith-case.
The Citizen. "Kelly Smith's Infamous Comment: 'My Child, Joshlin, Has Made Me Famous.'" The Citizen, 7 Mar. 2025, www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/joshlin-smith-trial-mother-kelly/.
TimesLive. "'My Child Is on a Boat to West Africa': Joshlin Smith Trial Hears Gripping Testimony by Teacher." TimesLive, 12 Mar. 2025, www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2025-03-12-my-child-is-on-a-boat-to-west-africa-joshlin-smith-trial-hears-gripping-testimony-by-teacher/.