this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
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[–] Gork@lemm.ee 19 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

The judge added her name to the child protection register. Isn't that a bit superfluous if she's going to be in prison for the rest of her life?

Then again lots of sentences don't make sense.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 19 points 16 hours ago

I guess it's in case the sentence gets shortened or she gets parole. "Life" doesn't always turn out to be life

[–] RouxBru@lemmy.world 7 points 13 hours ago

Unfortunately "life" doesn't mean "untill death" in SA

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 15 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

What happened to the "traditional healer" who bought the child?

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 6 points 6 hours ago

Yeah there is entirely too little detail in this article.

Smith sold her daughter to a traditional healer, who was interested in her eyes and fair complexion.

This could be interpreted in an entirely horrific way. It's the middle of the night here. I was hoping to get back to sleep like :(

[–] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 23 points 18 hours ago (1 children)
[–] L0rdMathias@sh.itjust.works 9 points 18 hours ago (3 children)

Child receives lifetime abuse and trauma.

She receives the reward of life.

[–] alleycat@feddit.org 13 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

The child had albinism. There are known cases in other African countries where people with albinism have been killed and their bodyparts been used for "witchcraft" purposes. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_people_with_albinism)

But it took a turn when prosecutors alleged that Smith sold her daughter to a traditional healer, who was interested in her eyes and fair complexion.

I think that implies that the child was literally butchered and its bodyparts sold.

[–] volvoxvsmarla@lemm.ee 6 points 12 hours ago

If you google the kid she definitely doesn't have albinism. Which makes it even weirder that she was sold for body parts.

[–] Bort@hilariouschaos.com 12 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

It looks like the kid might have been sold to harvest her skin and eyes…. There’s a good chance she isn’t alive.

[–] Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world 8 points 17 hours ago

Apparently she hasn't been found yet, dead or alive.

Sounds like most likely dead given the circumstances. Just not proven yet.

[–] RedditAdminsSuckIt@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago

Sometimes I wish I didn’t have empathy or feelings. The little person that is depending on you for safety and comfort and this is what they get, an atrocity. Monsters are real

[–] MuskyMelon@lemmy.world 6 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

Assuming the child is still alive

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 10 points 17 hours ago

Fucking wild that 3 people could have so little conscience between them.