Remember the pictures of a little girl with bright green eyes and a shy smile? That’s Joshlin Smith. She was six years old when she disappeared from her home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024. Her face was everywhere on social media, and for a moment, it felt like the whole country was holding its breath, hoping for her safe return, or her mother and the boyfriend would confess about her whereabouts. She became everyone’s daughter. The truth was worse than one could imagine. Joshlin had been sold by the people who were supposed to keep her safe. And she’s still missing.
We’ve covered this case in-depth for a while. The latest being in May 2025, her mother, her boyfriend and their friend were sentenced to life in prison for human trafficking and kidnapping of the little girl. While justice may seem served, Joshlin is still missing. No one knows where she is, and slowly, her story is disappearing from news headlines.
Joshlin’s story shows a much bigger problem in our country. The normalisation of it. Kidnappings, human trafficking, and violence against women and children are happening far too often, and we seem to be used to these cases blowing up and then vanishing into thin air.
A country grappling with crime
Human trafficking and kidnapping aren’t just something we see in the news headlines; it’s a scary reality for most South Africans.
Over 17,000 kidnappings were reported by SAPS between 2015 and 2024, with Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal being the most brutal hit. In areas like Soweto’s Jabulani, the fear is real and it’s growing. Between January and March 2025, Jabulani police recorded 47 kidnapping cases, a huge jump from just 15 the year before.
According to the Institute for Security Studies’ crime and justice information hub manager, Lizette Lancaster, the 6.8% increase in kidnappings countrywide meant that 51 kidnappings per day were reported to the police. Police believe some of these missing person cases may be linked to human trafficking, though they’re still investigating. Children like Joshlin, especially in poorer places like Middelpos, are often at risk, targeted by criminals who take advantage of poverty and desperation.
In places like Soweto, the rise in kidnappings has changed how people live their daily lives. People are constantly on the edge, watching their backs and warning each other in community WhatsApp groups. Even things as simple as taking an e-hailing taxi now feel risky. Criminals are hijacking cars, kidnapping drivers and passengers. These quick kidnappings are becoming more common in provinces like Gauteng, and Johannesburg has some of the worst police stations in the country for these types of crimes. Traffickers are said to be smart; they use fake job ads to lure people in, targeting those in desperate need, especially in communities where jobs are few and hope is even less.
Joshlin’s case is one of the most painful examples, where a child was allegedly sold by her own mother. Women in particular are the ones most affected, whether they’re passengers, drivers, or mothers; they face the highest risks and carry the heaviest weight of fear.
Why do we forget so soon?
Joshlin’s story got the whole country talking. Hashtags like #JusticeForJoshlin were trending, hundreds of people joined the search in Saldanha Bay, and the court case became something everyone followed closely. We were angry, heartbroken, and desperate for answers. But after the life sentences were handed out, the attention slowly faded. By June, other news had taken over, and people stopped talking about Joshlin.
Think about the 4-month-old baby Kai-Isha Meniers, who went missing in 2022. People were searching everywhere and flooding social media with posts, but her case is still unsolved and barely mentioned now. Or Linathi Titshala, another child from the Western Cape whose story touched many, but was soon forgotten. Even when more than 44 Ethiopian nationals were rescued from a trafficking house in Johannesburg last month, the attention to this only lasted a few days. The numbers are rising; kidnappings went up by 15.8% across the country. Gauteng records 52.8% of all reported kidnappings, making it a hotspot for these cases.
These cases are also about South Africa’s deep problem with gender-based violence, with women and girls being the ones at risk. They’re treated like they don’t matter, like their bodies can be used and thrown away. Joshlin was reportedly targeted just because of her eyes and skin, and in places like Soweto, women live in fear every day. They know they could be the next victim of a quick kidnapping or something worse. With femicide rates among the highest in the world, this is a full-blown crisis.
Stories of human trafficking, kidnapping and GBV may fade into silence, but the fear and pain remain. Yes, the accused in Joshlin’s case were sentenced to life in prison, but she is still missing, and that is the most heartbreaking part. It’s sad how quickly we’ve forgotten about it, how easily her story has been pushed aside like so many others. Social media hashtags and protests are not enough. We need a system that truly protects the most vulnerable and doesn’t wait for tragedy before acting.
Lona is a recent graduate with an Honours degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Wits University. Passionate about storytelling, she is eager to learn, grow, and hone her writing skills.
COLUMN | The news cycle has moved on from Joshlin Smith. She’s still missing.
|
Remember the pictures of a little girl with bright green eyes and a shy smile? That’s Joshlin Smith. She was six years old when she disappeared from her home in Saldanha Bay in February 2024. Her face was everywhere on social media, and for a moment, it felt like the whole country was holding its breath, hoping for her safe return, or her mother and the boyfriend would confess about her whereabouts. She became everyone’s daughter. The truth was worse than one could imagine. Joshlin had been sold by the people who were supposed to keep her safe. And she’s still missing.
We’ve covered this case in-depth for a while. The latest being in May 2025, her mother, her boyfriend and their friend were sentenced to life in prison for human trafficking and kidnapping of the little girl. While justice may seem served, Joshlin is still missing. No one knows where she is, and slowly, her story is disappearing from news headlines.
Joshlin’s story shows a much bigger problem in our country. The normalisation of it. Kidnappings, human trafficking, and violence against women and children are happening far too often, and we seem to be used to these cases blowing up and then vanishing into thin air.
A country grappling with crime
Human trafficking and kidnapping aren’t just something we see in the news headlines; it’s a scary reality for most South Africans.
Over 17,000 kidnappings were reported by SAPS between 2015 and 2024, with Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal being the most brutal hit. In areas like Soweto’s Jabulani, the fear is real and it’s growing. Between January and March 2025, Jabulani police recorded 47 kidnapping cases, a huge jump from just 15 the year before.
According to the Institute for Security Studies’ crime and justice information hub manager, Lizette Lancaster, the 6.8% increase in kidnappings countrywide meant that 51 kidnappings per day were reported to the police. Police believe some of these missing person cases may be linked to human trafficking, though they’re still investigating. Children like Joshlin, especially in poorer places like Middelpos, are often at risk, targeted by criminals who take advantage of poverty and desperation.
In places like Soweto, the rise in kidnappings has changed how people live their daily lives. People are constantly on the edge, watching their backs and warning each other in community WhatsApp groups. Even things as simple as taking an e-hailing taxi now feel risky. Criminals are hijacking cars, kidnapping drivers and passengers. These quick kidnappings are becoming more common in provinces like Gauteng, and Johannesburg has some of the worst police stations in the country for these types of crimes. Traffickers are said to be smart; they use fake job ads to lure people in, targeting those in desperate need, especially in communities where jobs are few and hope is even less.
Joshlin’s case is one of the most painful examples, where a child was allegedly sold by her own mother. Women in particular are the ones most affected, whether they’re passengers, drivers, or mothers; they face the highest risks and carry the heaviest weight of fear.
Why do we forget so soon?
Joshlin’s story got the whole country talking. Hashtags like #JusticeForJoshlin were trending, hundreds of people joined the search in Saldanha Bay, and the court case became something everyone followed closely. We were angry, heartbroken, and desperate for answers. But after the life sentences were handed out, the attention slowly faded. By June, other news had taken over, and people stopped talking about Joshlin.
Think about the 4-month-old baby Kai-Isha Meniers, who went missing in 2022. People were searching everywhere and flooding social media with posts, but her case is still unsolved and barely mentioned now. Or Linathi Titshala, another child from the Western Cape whose story touched many, but was soon forgotten. Even when more than 44 Ethiopian nationals were rescued from a trafficking house in Johannesburg last month, the attention to this only lasted a few days. The numbers are rising; kidnappings went up by 15.8% across the country. Gauteng records 52.8% of all reported kidnappings, making it a hotspot for these cases.
These cases are also about South Africa’s deep problem with gender-based violence, with women and girls being the ones at risk. They’re treated like they don’t matter, like their bodies can be used and thrown away. Joshlin was reportedly targeted just because of her eyes and skin, and in places like Soweto, women live in fear every day. They know they could be the next victim of a quick kidnapping or something worse. With femicide rates among the highest in the world, this is a full-blown crisis.
Stories of human trafficking, kidnapping and GBV may fade into silence, but the fear and pain remain. Yes, the accused in Joshlin’s case were sentenced to life in prison, but she is still missing, and that is the most heartbreaking part. It’s sad how quickly we’ve forgotten about it, how easily her story has been pushed aside like so many others. Social media hashtags and protests are not enough. We need a system that truly protects the most vulnerable and doesn’t wait for tragedy before acting.
Lona Sokanyile
Lona is a recent graduate with an Honours degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Wits University. Passionate about storytelling, she is eager to learn, grow, and hone her writing skills.
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