Joslin Smith disappearance: South African mother and boyfriend charged with trafficking

The mother of a six-year-old girl missing in South Africa since 19 February has been charged with human trafficking and kidnapping.

Kelly Smith was charged along with her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and two others, following their arrest.

Ms Smith’s daughter, Joslin, disappeared outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town.

The four accused appeared in court, but were not asked to plead in a case that has transfixed South Africans.

A huge crowd gathered outside court, chanting: “Bring back Joslin.”

The prosecution alleges that Ms Smith instructed Mr Appollis and another of the accused, Stefano van Rhyn, to sell Joslin to a traditional healer for 20,000 rand ($1,000; £835), the privately owned Citizen newspaper reports.