this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
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[–] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 24 points 5 days ago (1 children)
[–] L0rdMathias@sh.itjust.works 10 points 5 days ago (3 children)

Child receives lifetime abuse and trauma.

She receives the reward of life.

[–] alleycat@feddit.org 16 points 4 days 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 8 points 4 days 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 14 points 5 days 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 10 points 5 days ago

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

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

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 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Assuming the child is still alive

[–] Gork@lemm.ee 19 points 5 days 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 20 points 5 days 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 4 days ago

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

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 16 points 5 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days 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 :(

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 10 points 5 days ago

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