

A mother in South Africa was sentenced to life in prison for selling her daughter to a healer for ritualistic purposes.
In a chilling turn of events, a South African woman has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of selling her 6-year-old daughter to a "traditional healer" who allegedly intended to use the child's body parts for ritualistic purposes. According to a report by the New York Post, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and friend Steveno van Rhyn, were handed life sentences for their involvement in this heinous crime.
The disappearance of Smith's daughter, Joshlin Smith, in February 2024 near Cape Town, initially gripped the nation. The young girl, with her striking green eyes and bright smile, became a symbol of innocence, and her mother's public display of grief garnered sympathy across South Africa. However, as the investigation progressed, it became clear that Smith's role in her daughter's disappearance was far from that of a grieving parent.
The court learned that Smith had sold her daughter to a sangoma, a traditional healer, for 20,000 rand (approximately $1,100). Witnesses revealed that the healer sought Joshlin’s “eyes and skin” for ritualistic use. The transaction was allegedly made to fund the trio’s drug habits, a grim detail that further shocked the public.