What happened to the maternal love?
On May 11th, South Africa took a moment to celebrate and remember mothers, acknowledging the comfort, care, and boundless love that mothers embody.
Those fortunate enough to have experienced this special maternal love should indeed treasure those memories.
However, the recent news surrounding two deeply disturbing cases stands in stark contrast to this sentiment. A six-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy became victims in profoundly troubling ways.
Keneilwe Shalaba, the mother of the two-year-old, Kutlwano, appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court this week, accused of selling her son for R75 000.
Tragically, Kutlwano, who had been missing since November of last year despite extensive searches, was found dead last week. A traditional healer is also expected to be implicated in this heartbreaking case.
Adding to this sorrow is the case of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, who disappeared from her Saldanha Bay home on February 19, 2024. The court revealed that Joshlin was reportedly sold for R20 000. Her mother, Racquel ''Kelly'' Smith, along with her boyfriend and a family acquaintance, were found guilty in the Western Cape High Court and received life sentences.
While justice may have been served in this instance, Joshlin herself remains missing.
These cases, along with the countless others where children have suffered such fates at the hands of their mothers, are deeply distressing. While some commentators attribute these acts to poverty, it's important to remember the countless mothers who make immense sacrifices to provide for their children, working tirelessly in difficult conditions to ensure their well-being.
We heard stories of mothers who sell toasted corn by the street corner to support their kids; and mothers walk the streets in the blazing sun, selling tripe, just to make sure that their children don't go to bed on an empty stomach.
Ultimately, it seems that greed, with money as the driving force, lies at the heart of these unthinkable crimes.
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The South African
10 hours ago
- The South African
'She is still alive': Joslin Smith hope renewed
The National Prosecuting Authority has renewed hope that little Joslin Smith is still alive despite being missing for over a year. The Salanha Bay girl's disappearance has sparked a national, and even international, rescue effort. Her mother, Kelly Smith, and two others – Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn – have since been convicted and sentenced for kidnapping and child trafficking. Speaking in a webinar this week, NPA prosecutor Zelda Swanepoel shared her beliefs about Joslin Smith. Earlier this month, Swapepoel helped the state to convict Joslin's mother, Kelly Smith, the latter's boyfriend, Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis, and their pal, Steveno van Rhyn. A life sentence for trafficking and kidnapping was handed down by Western Cape High Court judge, Nathan Erasmus. She said of the search for the missing girl: 'We have done a comprehensive search in Saldanha of all the exhibits. 'Everything that was found in all of those dunes, all the bones, all the clothing, was analysed, there were no positive DNA results found on anything. She continued: 'I'm convinced that she is still alive. However, I don't know where she is. I can only hope we find her.' Will Kelly Smith ever reveal where her daughter Joslin is? The Saldanha Bay girl went missing on 19 February 2024. Images via YouTube screenshot: SABC Swanepoel added that Joslin's case was the first prosecution she had worked on where the missing child had not been found. She added that much of the case hung on the state witness Lourentia Lombaard. The NPA was also banking on the possibility that Joslin's mother would testify. 'We were always hopeful during the trial that the accused would come and testify in the main trial. The plan was to destroy their credibility and demonstrate the improbabilities in their versions. Yes, their decision to remain silent, especially Kelly, was very disappointing,' she added. Meanwhile, Joslin's mother Kelly Smith as well as Appollis and van Rhyn have filed their notices this week for leave to appeal their convictions and sentences. The NPA are also awaiting the fate of the state witness Lourentia Lombaard, whose verdict will be announced by Judge Erasmus at an appointed date. A 204 inquiry will determine if Lombaard will be granted indemnity based on her testimony. If the court does find that Lombaard did not testify truthfully, she could face prosecution for perjury and related charges. Lombaard previously stated under oath that Joslin's mother, Kelly Smith, allegedly sold her to a sangoma for R20 000. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
16 hours ago
- IOL News
Witness recants, undermining State's case against Bulelani Yosana in murder trial
Bulelani Yosana is currently awaiting trial alongside accused hitman James Easton for the contract murder of Bloekombos teacher and ANC activist Vuyo Dana. Yosana's latest bail appeal bid failed in the Western Cape High Court. Image: File Accused killer, Bulelani Yosana's bail appeal again failed in the Western Cape High Court this week, where he argued that the State's case against him has considerably weakened after a Section 204 witness recanted on their statement. Yosana is currently awaiting trial alongside accused hitman James Easton for the contract murder of Bloekombos teacher and ANC activist Vuyo Dana. A trial date is yet to be set for the matter. After a previous unsuccessful attempt, Yosana, a former police officer and ANC branch secretary, filed a new bail bid appeal with the High Court, citing the recanted statement, that a trial date remains unset, and that his bank account is about to be closed for non-compliance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act. Dana was shot and killed at his home in February 2022 while on his way to work at Bloekombos Senior Secondary School, in Kraaifontein, in what has been alleged to be a politically motivated killing. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Yosana brought the second bail application on the basis that new facts have arisen since the initial bail court (Regional Court) refused to admit him on bail, pending the finalisation of his trial. Yosana and Easton face a variety of offences arising out of the murder which occurred on February 22, 2022. The offences include a contravention of Section 18 of the Riotous Assemblies Act, conspiracy to murder, and murder. Through his attorney, Yosana submitted that following the bail application, hearing, and the appeal, they discovered a statement in which the Section 204 witness recanted what he stated in his Section 204 affidavit. According to Yosana's lawyer, there are no eyewitness accounts that place Yosana on the scene, and he claims that due to the recanting statement, there is insufficient evidence. 'According to Mr Booth (Yosana's attorney), this recanting statement was never discovered by the State, and as such, it alters the overall picture of the State's case. 'In this (newly) discovered statement, the Section 204 witness is recanting what he initially told the police about the involvement of the applicant (Yosana) in the commission of the offences the applicant is arraigned on. Booth advanced the argument that the State case is based primarily on the evidence of the Section 204 witness. 'Booth's argument postulates that if the Section 204 witness has recanted his original police affidavit, wherein he originally implicated the applicant in the crimes, the necessary corollary is that the State's case has since been considerably weakened. According to the applicant, this discovery presents an insurmountable hurdle for the State,' the court record read. The State did not dispute that the Section 204 witness has since recanted his first key pre-trial statement. 'According to the State's heads of argument, the Section 204 witness filed a recanting statement after the residence of the witness was visited by the applicant and after the applicant's arrest. To this end, the State specifical contends that the recanting statement is a product of interference with a State witness,' the judgment further read. High Court judge Constance Nziweni, said: 'There is no doubt that the existence of a recanting statement presents considerable odds in the prosecution's case. Undoubtedly, the strength of the State's case is now called into question. It is appropriate at this stage to say something about the presumption of innocence. 'It should be observed that, according to the Constitution's principles, the bail court is deeply concerned with the right of a person who is presumed to be innocent, whose right to liberty is at stake. However, despite the right to be presumed innocent, there are instances where an accused person has to be detained pending the trial.' Judge Nziweni said that Yosana did not satisfy the court with reasons to be released on bail. 'In view of the foregoing, this court is of the firm opinion that in this matter, it cannot be said that there is no longer a 'just cause' behind the accused's detention. Though the prolonged detention of the applicant is regrettable, it cannot be said that the delay is unreasonable, as such, it amounts to a new fact that warrants his release,' said Judge Nziweni.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Four men sentenced for insurance policy murder of disabled woman
Nosipho Mfana was murdered in her sleep by a hitman hired to help her adopted father cash in on funeral policies. Four men have been given lengthy prison sentences for their role in a plot to murder a disabled woman for monetary gain. The quartet were convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and premediated murder following the 2022 death of 23-year-old Nosipho Mfana in KwaNokuthula near Plettenberg Bay. Mfana was murdered in her sleep after her adopted father hired men to kill her in order to collect funeral policy payouts. Hired gunmen Mboneleli Msila and his wife — who was not implicated in the murder plot — adopted Mfana in 2010 when she was 11 years old. The court described Mfana as 'severely mentally disabled', and explained how in 2021 Msila began assisting her in taking out separate funeral policies at three different banks. Each policy would pay out R200 000 in the event of Mfana's death, with Msila, his wife and his sister-in-law the designated beneficiaries. The court heard how Msila and his accomplices then 'put together a well-planned assassination with clearly identified roles for each of the accused, which was driven by greed'. Msila hired Monde Tshemese, Lungisile Lucas and Mbulelo Jack to kill Mfana at Msila's home in KwaNokuthula. On 30 April 2022, Mfana was one of three women sleeping on the lounge floor of their home while Msila slept in another room. Lucas kept watch outside the dwelling while the other two entered — Jack pointing out which of the three women was Mfana, after which Tshemese shot her 15 times. One of three claims rejected The three men fled in a getaway vehicle without taking anything from the home and the two women sleeping near Mfana escaped without injury. Following the incident, Msila submitted the insurance claims, with two of the three paying out the full R200 000. The policies where his wife and sister-in-law were the beneficiaries granted the claims, but the policy where Msila was the beneficiary did not, as the circumstances and cause of death became subject to investigation. Police were tipped off by a man who was collecting scrap near Msila's home on the evening of the murder. 'The plan fell apart when a tin collector observed the three men when they entered the yard. He knew the three men as they lived in the area. He also observed the men leaving the house after numerous shots were fired,' explained Western Cape NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila. Life and 17-year sentences The four men were sentenced by the Western Cape High Court sitting in Knysna on Friday. Msila and Tshemese were given life sentences for conspiracy to commit murder and premeditated murder, while Tshemese was given an extra five years for possession of an unlicensed firearm. Lucas and Jack each received 17 years behind bars for their role in the plot. 'The cruelty accused one showed in putting together the assassination plan, her funeral policy money and the participants in that plan for their greedy benefit is indicative of the sick society we live in,' said Ntabazalila. NOW READ: Hawks and NPA explain why corruption investigations and prosecutions take long
