Mother myself daughter for $1,000 in sale.
In the controversial trial rocking South Africa, Rakel Chantel Smith, along with her companions Jaco Apollis and Steven van Rijn, have reportedly been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking young Joshline, Smith's 6-year-old daughter.
Initially, public sympathies leaned towards Smith when the child vanished in February 2024, with neighbors helping in the search in the sandy dunes near their impoverished settlement close to Saldanha Bay, a town north of Cape Town.
Images of a happy Joshline with her braided hair were broadcast across news stations, triggering a nationwide search. Smith alleged she left Joshline with her boyfriend on the day she disappeared, but the situation took a drastic turn when Smith was apprehended.
According to witness Lorencia Lombaard, Smith confessed in court that she and the two men had sold Joshline to a traditional healer for around $1000, as he desired a child for her organs.
Miss Lombaard declared that Smith regretted her actions, stating that she apparently sold Joshline to a sangoma – a traditional healer in South Africa. "The man who [allegedly] kidnapped Joshline wanted her for her eyes and skin," Mrs. Lombaard stated to the court.
A local pastor testified that Smith, a mother of three, had casually mentioned selling her children for 20,000 rand (around $1100) each in 2023, although she was allegedly willing to accept less – even down to $275.
Though the judge has yet to announce their sentences, the trio faces a potential sentence of life imprisonment. Despite breaking down as the verdict was read, Smith, and Stephen van Ryn, who astonishingly smiled in court, will face sentencing proceedings next week.
As the trial unfolded, it stirred intense debate in South Africa, with witnesses and prosecutors making a series of alarming revelations.
Smith's mother, Amanda Daniels-Smith, attended the hearing and stated afterward that she holds no malice towards her daughter but seeks answers. "She needs to tell me where my granddaughter is," she told the press.
While the authenticity of this case remains unconfirmed, it is essential to consult official law enforcement updates, reputable news outlets, or legal records when seeking information on specific criminal cases or missing persons.
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What about the court's decision in the war-and-conflicts section of general news, as it seems this case could have far-reaching implications for South Africa's politics and public opinion, given the controversy surrounding crime-and-justice issues like child trafficking?
In light of the increasing number of similar cases in war-and-conflicts regions, this trial serves as a grim reminder of the importance of vigilance in reporting and recognizing the signs of crime-and-justice issues like child trafficking.
