The Disappearance of Joshlin Smith: A South African Community Shattered
A Child Vanishes
On February 19, 2024, six-year-old Joshlin Smith disappeared from her home in Saldanha Bay, a coastal town on South Africa’s west coast. It was a Monday — an ordinary school day — but Joshlin never made it to class. What followed was a search that gripped the nation and exposed a horrifying truth no one wanted to believe.
Joshlin was last seen in the company of her mother’s boyfriend. Her mother, Racquel Smith, initially claimed she had left Joshlin at home with her boyfriend while she went to run errands. But the timeline was fuzzy. The details didn’t add up. Soon, the community began to suspect there was more to the story — and they were right.
A Mother's Betrayal
As investigators dug deeper, shocking allegations surfaced. It was discovered that Racquel, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and his friend Steveno van Rhyn had conspired in an unthinkable act: they had sold Joshlin to a sangoma — a traditional healer — for the purpose of using her body parts in ritualistic practices.
Her eyes. Her skin. That’s what they wanted.
The revelation was met with collective horror across South Africa. A child, betrayed by the very person who brought her into the world — all for money, superstition, and cruelty. While the accused were arrested and eventually convicted, Joshlin’s body has never been found.
The Aftermath
The case devastated the town of Saldanha Bay and sparked national outrage. Vigils were held. Children clutched pink balloons in memory of Joshlin. Communities came together to demand justice — not just for Joshlin, but for every child in South Africa living in unsafe conditions.
Social workers revealed that Joshlin had been living in poverty, surrounded by drug use and domestic instability. It was a reminder that sometimes the most dangerous place for a child isn’t outside — it’s home.
Where Is Joshlin?
To this day, the haunting question remains unanswered: where is Joshlin Smith?
Despite arrests and life sentences handed down to her mother and co-conspirators, her remains have never been recovered. No one knows if she was buried, burned, discarded — or perhaps, her soul still lingers somewhere near the sea where she once played.
Her story is one of horror, yes — but also of a society's responsibility to protect its most vulnerable.
Joshlin was only six.
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