Where is Joslin Smith? South Africa demands answers after guilty verdicts
The disappearance of six-year-old Joslin Smith from Saldanha Bay has shaken the nation. Even after yesterday’s guilty verdicts against her mother, Kelly Smith; her mother’s boyfriend, Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis; and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, for human trafficking and kidnapping, South Africa’s most pressing question remains: Where is Joslin?
The absence of closure has sparked a nationwide outcry, uniting communities, activists, and social media users in a relentless pursuit of answers.
Joslin vanished from her Diazville home on February 19, 2024, triggering one of the most extensive search efforts in the country’s history. Police, K9 units, drones, helicopters, the South African Navy, and even Interpol scoured Saldanha Bay’s coastline, ports, and surrounding areas.
Despite chasing international leads, no trace of Joslin was found. Thousands of residents joined the search, their determination undeterred by months of false leads and dead ends. Recently, local volunteer Vernon Vraagom reignited the search along Tabak Bay beach after discovering items such as a blue flip-flop though none have yet provided any concrete evidence.
Disturbing revelations during the trial deepened public anguish. A state witness, Lourentia Lombaard, testified that Kelly Smith sold Joslin for R20,000 allegedly to a sangoma for ritualistic purposes involving her “eyes and skin.” Additionally, unconfirmed accounts from Joslin’s teacher hinted she might have been trafficked through the Saldanha Bay port, potentially onto a ship bound for West Africa. However, these claims remain unverified, and the absence of physical evidence continues to haunt the case.
Social media, has become a central outlet for public emotion and activism. Posts like “South Africans are still asking: Where is Joslin?” have gone viral, with hashtags amplifying the demand for answers.
The burning of Kelly Smith’s home just hours after the verdict reflected the community’s anger and the belief that true justice cannot be served until Joslin is found.
“She’s every South African’s child,” said resident Maria Ndaba, who took part in the early search efforts. “We can’t rest until we know what happened to her.”
The case has cast a harsh spotlight on child trafficking in South Africa, particularly around vulnerable coastal regions like Saldanha Bay. Though Interpol continues to investigate, the trail has gone cold, leaving citizens disheartened. Vigils are being organized, and online campaigns are urging anyone with information to come forward.