Human Trafficking News & Updates

Kelly Smith, the mother of Joslin Smith.

Joshlin Smith Trial: ‘They Wanted Her Eyes and Skin’

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – A witness has told a South African court that Kelly Smith, the mother of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith, admitted knowing what happened to her daughter and claimed someone paid her to stay silent, as the trial continued

March 17, 2025

Crime·South Africa

Witness Testifies Joshlin Smith was sold for R20,000

CAPE TOWN- The Western Cape High Court heard harrowing testimony from formerly accused witness, Lourentia Lombaard, who detailed the alleged sale of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith for R20,000. The trial is held at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay.

March 14, 2025

Crime·Nigeria·South Africa

Teacher: Joshlin’s mother claimed child on boat to West Africa

CAPE TOWN- In a dramatic twist in the case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith, her class teacher, Edna Maart, has testified in the Western Cape High Court that the child’s mother, Kelly Smith, claimed Joshlin was being transported to West Africa by

March 13, 2025

Crime·Politics·South Africa

Smith kidnapping accused claims Gayton McKenzie involved in arrest

Van Rhyn alleges Gayton McKenzie transported him to police station in connection with missing 6-year-old case. Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, one of the accused in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping trial, has claimed Patriotic Alliance (PA) president Gayton McKenzie was involved in bringing

March 10, 2025

Lebombo border between South Africa and Mozambique reopens for cargo processing Picture Supplied

Featured·South Africa

14 Children Rescued from Human Trafficking at SA-Mozambique Border

The Border Management Authority (BMA) intercepted a human trafficking attempt at the Lebombo border post, arresting a minibus driver who tried to smuggle 14 undocumented children aged 14-16 from Mozambique into South Africa. The children have been placed under the care of

December 10, 2024

South Africa

Hawks Free Trafficking Victim in Western Cape Raid

VANRHYNSDORP, SOUTH AFRICA – Hawks law enforcement units rescued a 17-year-old Mozambican trafficking victim and arrested her alleged captor during a raid Thursday at 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT) in Vanrhynsdorp, Western Cape. The 38-year-old foreign national allegedly held the teenager against

December 6, 2024

A Zimbabwean man faces execution in Botswana after being convicted

Crime·Zimbabwe

Man Faces Death Penalty in Botswana for Child Ritual Murder

A Zimbabwean man faces execution in Botswana after being convicted of selling his six-year-old stepson to ritualists who killed the child. Lovemore Sithole, 37, received US$15,000 for trafficking the boy, whose skull was found a month after his disappearance. DNA testing confirmed

November 27, 2024

Crime·South Africa

Mother Faces Trafficking Charges Over Missing Toddler

A South African court has postponed the case of a mother accused of selling her two-year-old son, as authorities continue their search for the missing toddler. The 32-year-old woman appeared in Vanderbijlpark Magistrate Court, Gauteng, where she faces charges of human trafficking,

November 26, 2024

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