The missing girl was searched for her “eyes and skin”

A young South African girl, who disappeared last year, was allegedly requested by a traditional healer for her eyes and a fair color, the court heard.

This is among the accusations that appeared on the current lawsuit against Joshlin Smith Smith Smith’s mother, who was accused of organizing the abduction.

Ms Smith, her boyfriend Jacques Apalis and their friend Stephen van Rin have not pleaded guilty to accusation of human trafficking and abductions.

The disappearance of Joshlin in February 2024 outside her home in Soldier Bay, near Cape Town, sent shock waves in South Africa and, despite the widely advertised search for her, has not yet been found.

Ms. Smith initially said that Joshlin, who had an honest complexion and blue-green eyes, disappeared after she left her in Mr. Apalis.

Later, the prosecutor’s office accused her of selling, delivery or exchange of “six years of age and lied to her disappearance.

The trial, which is now in the third week, takes place at the Public Center in Saldon.

During the first week of trial, the court heard details about the day when Joshlin was missing, including that Mrs. Smith warned the police only more than six hours after she first noticed that the young girl had disappeared.

The court also heard that during a frantic search she turned out to be calm and seemed more concerned about her guy than the missing baby.

In the second week, more shocking details appeared.

The local pastor said that in 2023 he heard Ms. Smith – the mother of three years – talk about the sale of his children for 20,000 Rand ($ 1100, 850 pounds), although she said she was ready to accept a lower $ 275.

The teacher Joshlin then said in court that Ms. Smith told her during the search that her daughter was already “on the ship, in a container, and they are on the way to West Africa.”

These revelations were broken compared to the explosive details made by Lurentia Lombard, friends and neighbor Ms. Smith, who turned into a state witness.

It took the stand last Thursday and more than three days in detail about the events within the disappearance of Joshlin, which was attended by a traditional healer known in South Africa as “Songgom”.

Mrs. Lambaard claimed that her friend confessed to her, “I did something stupid … I sold my baby Songom,” adding that she had been moving a desperate need for money.

Joshlin’s mother promised those who knew about the money plan in return for their silence, said Ms Lambaard.

She told the court that she later became a witness to Ms. Smith, who seduced the clothes for Joshlin in a black bag, which she later saw how she was carrying when they were going to meet the woman, Mrs. Lambard considers Songom.

Mother and daughter sat in a white car and drove with the woman, said Ms Lambard.

Speaking on Monday, her last day at the booth, Mrs. Lambaard told the court that “a man who (allegedly took) Joshlin wanted her to be for her eyes and skin.”

In court, it was not clear why Songgom would want such a child.

A woman who was considered a traditional doctor was initially arrested and accused with Mrs. Smith and her co-author last year, but the charges against her were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence.

Songomas are legally recognized in South Africa in accordance with the 2007 traditional medical practice law, as well as counters, traditional duty and traditional surgeons.

It is believed that the ancestral spirits can give advice and healing through these cultural respected practitioners.

Some charlatans are involved in the unscrupulous traditional so -called medicines, and are known to sell the fun bowls that include body parts.

Ms Lombard expressed sadness for his role in the disappearance of Joshlin, saying that she did not successfully stop Ms Smith to sell her daughter.

She turned to the one who took the young girl to “please return her alive.”

The trial is expected to take place until March 28.