human trafficking south africalatest news & developments
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s son, was arrested for attempted murder on Thursday after a shooting at his Hyde Park residence

Organised Crime Index 2025: South Africa a continental hotspot for criminal networks

Human trafficking, cybercrime, drug routes and wildlife poaching are surging as South Africa becomes a regional crime hub

  • Sheree Bega
8 min read
Kelly Smith, the mother of Joslin Smith.

State seeks life sentence for accused in Joslin Smith kidnapping

A human expert trafficking testified in aggravation of sentence on Tuesday, saying the sale of the child was premeditated and there was plenty of time to stop it

  • Umamah Bakharia
4 min read
Joshlin Smith, of, Saldanha Bay, has been missing since 19 February 2024. Image: Sourced

Joslin Smith: Defence accuses cop of trying to exploit accused’s weaknesses to gain confession

Sergeant Dawid Fortuin took advantage of Steveno van Rhyn’s ‘youth and vulnerability’, according to attorney Nobahle Mkabayi

  • Des Erasmus
3 min read
According to the SAPS Missing Persons Bureau data, an average of 1 697 children have been reported missing every year over a 10-year period, equating to about one report every five hours.

Where have your children gone, South Africa?

Of the more than 16 000 children who have been reported missing over 18 years, about 4 000 have never been found

  • Des Erasmus
10 min read
Lourentia Lombaard admitted she repeatedly withheld information from police about the alleged sale of the child, blaming fear, anger, drug use and a promised R1 000 payment

Star witness in Joslin Smith case says silence was driven by fear, drugs and hush money

Lourentia Lombaard admitted she repeatedly withheld information from police about the alleged sale of the child, blaming fear, anger, drug use and a promised R1 000 payment

  • Des Erasmus
4 min read
Judge Nathan Erasmus on Thursday sentenced Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith, convicted earlier this month of kidnapping and trafficking Joslin Smith, to 10 years in prison for the former, and life imprisonment for the latter.(Screenshot of trial proceedings)

Joslin Smith: Accused claim police torture, admit to heavy drug use

Two of the accused have alleged being assaulted and tortured and also detailed smoking tik on the day of Joslin’s disappearance

  • Des Erasmus
7 min read
Judge Nathan Erasmus on Thursday sentenced Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn, and Kelly Smith, convicted earlier this month of kidnapping and trafficking Joslin Smith, to 10 years in prison for the former, and life imprisonment for the latter.(Screenshot of trial proceedings)

Attorney for mother of Joslin Smith challenges police credibility during trial

A second police witness on Tuesday told the court that Kelly Smith’s partner was uncooperative when questioned

  • Des Erasmus
5 min read