Mother sold 6-year-old daughter to African witch doctor – Her blue eyes and fair skin were to be used as ritual medicine

Published May 31, 2025 | By NewsJive.com

A South African mother named Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn have been sentenced to life imprisonment for human trafficking and kidnapping of 6-year-old Joshlin Smith in a court in Cape Town, South Africa.

The girl, Joshlin Smith, whose body has never been found, is believed to have been murdered, and her body parts are thought to have been sold for 20,000 rand (£830) to an African witch doctor, as her light “eyes and skin” are highly sought after in various African religious rituals, according to witness testimony in the trial.

The three convicted individuals reportedly blamed their actions on drug abuse, hoping it would earn them leniency. However, the court rejected this defense and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

In parts of Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania, people with albinism and individuals with lighter skin are sometimes targeted for racist ritual killings.

Their body parts – such as bones, eyes, and hair – are believed to bring luck, power, or success in traditional ceremonies.

These practices have led to numerous murders and human rights abuses, especially against vulnerable albino communities.

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