Court find woman guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter Joshlin Smith inside case wey shock South Africa.
Authorities arrest Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and dia friend Steveno van Rhyn after Smith daughter, Joshlin, miss from outside her home for Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, for February last year.
Appollis and Rhyn also dey found guilty on Friday of kidnapping and trafficking Joshlin. All three bin don plead not guilty to to dis charges.
Joshlin disappearance shock South Africa and despite di highly publicised search for her, dem never still find her.
During di trial, wey happun for March, prosecutors accuse Smith say she “sell, deliver or exchange” Joshlin and come lie about her disappearance.
As South Africans wait for di Judge Nathan Erasmus to deliver im verdict for Saldanha Multipurpose Centre on Friday, queues form outside di building.
Nearby roads bin dey closed in expectation of a large turnout, while police officers bin dey deployed in and around di centre.
Smith trial interest South Africans well-well, with witnesses and prosecutors wey make shocking allegations.
Di most explosive one come from Lourentia Lombaard, friend and neighbour of Smith wey turn state witness.
Ms Lombaard allege say Smith tell her say she don do “something silly” and say she sell Joshlin to one traditional healer, wey dey known for South Africa as “sangoma”.
Di “person wey [allegedly take] Joshlin bin want her for her eyes and skin”, Ms Lombaard tell di court.
One local pastor testify say for 2023, e hear Smith – wey be a mother of three – talk about selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100; £850) each, although she say she bin dey willing to accept a lower figure of $275.
Joshlin teacher later allege for court say Smith bin tell her during di search say her daughter already dey “on a ship, inside one container, and dem dey on dia way to West Africa”.
Smith lawyer, Rinesh Sivnarain, no believe dis allegations. E cite inconsistencies – wey di prosecution recognise – for Ms Lombaard comment and e suggest say e be “opportunist”.
Di defendants decide not to call any witnesses for dia defence and dem no take di stand during di trial.
Sangomas dey legally recognised for South Africa under di Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, alongside herbalists, traditional birth attendants and traditional surgeons.
Some fake pipo dey involved for dis so-called traditional cures, and pipo know say dem dey sell good luck charms wey involve body parts.
Di allegation say Smith bin discuss say she wan sell her daughter and say she also get drug issues don lead to conversations about di vulnerability of children, particularly for South Africa poor communities.
For Joshlin community of Middelpos, parents tell local media more dan a year afta di young girl disappearance, say dem still dey worry for dia children safety.
