The disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith in February 2024 has left people around the world in disbelief.
What began as a tragic missing child case has since evolved into one of the most disturbing trials in recent memory — culminating in the conviction of her own mother, along with two others, for kidnapping and trafficking.
Despite a high-profile search and months of public anguish, Joshlin has never been found. But the courtroom testimonies, community reaction, and eventual guilty verdicts have painted a devastating picture of betrayal, secrecy, and unimaginable cruelty.
Here’s everything we know so far about the case that has rocked a nation...
Who Is Joshlin Smith?
Joshlin Smith was just six years old when she disappeared from her home in the coastal town of Saldanha Bay, located around 75 miles north of Cape Town, South Africa.
Described as having fair skin and striking turquoise eyes, Joshlin’s photo — hair tied neatly in pigtails — was widely circulated in the media as the search for her intensified.
Her disappearance on an otherwise ordinary day in February 2024 quickly triggered a massive search operation.
Police, firefighters, and canine units scoured sand dunes and coastal terrain near her home. Community members joined forces, rallying in solidarity with the family they believed were victims of a horrific crime.
At first, Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith — full name Racquel Chantel Smith — was a figure of public sympathy. Locals volunteered to help her and authorities comb through every possible lead. But what emerged in the weeks and months following her arrest shattered that image entirely.
What Happened on the Day Joshlin Went Missing?
Kelly Smith initially told authorities that she had left Joshlin in the care of her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, when the child disappeared, per CBS News.
It wasn't long before both Smith and Appollis, along with their friend Steveno van Rhyn, were taken into custody. The charges? Kidnapping and human trafficking — centered around allegations that they had sold Joshlin to a traditional healer, known in South Africa as a sangoma.
All three had pleaded not guilty.
While Smith claimed ignorance of her daughter’s whereabouts, investigators and prosecutors began to piece together a disturbing narrative. Witnesses would soon come forward with stories that pointed not only to Smith's potential involvement, but to a calculated plan to exchange the child for money.
What Did the Trial Reveal?
The trial, held in March 2025 at Saldanha’s Multipurpose Centre to ensure public access, was marked by explosive allegations and emotional testimony.
Judge Nathan Erasmus presided over the proceedings in a venue chosen to accommodate the large crowds that gathered each day.
At the heart of the prosecution’s case was the testimony of two of Smith’s neighbors — Lourentia Lombaard and Paulina Tshosa — and Joshlin’s schoolteacher. Their accounts painted a chilling portrait of what allegedly happened in the days leading up to Joshlin’s disappearance.
As reported by BBC News, Lombaard - a friend and neighbor of Smith’s - became a key state witness. She testified that Smith confided in her just before the child vanished, saying: “I did something silly. I sold my child to a sangoma" (a traditional healer).
According to Lombaard, Smith even packed Joshlin’s belongings into a black bag before going to meet a woman believed to be the healer.
Lombaard also told the court that Smith had tried to buy silence. “She offered money to me and others in exchange for our silence,” she alleged. The defense attempted to discredit Lombaard by highlighting her drug use and claiming she was an “opportunist,” but she stood firm on the stand, admitting to drug use but refusing to retract her statement.
Another local resident, Paulina Tshosa, described a violent encounter the night before Joshlin vanished. “I saw Kelly dragging the little girl into a shack during an argument,” Tshosa testified, recalling a particularly haunting detail: “Joshlin lost a flip-flop in the struggle.” Tshosa only realized the importance of what she had witnessed after Joshlin’s photo began circulating in the media days later.
One of the most unsettling pieces of testimony came from Joshlin’s schoolteacher.
She told the court that during the early days of the search, she had asked Smith where her daughter was. Smith allegedly replied that she had received a call saying Joshlin was “on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa", BBC reports.
That same claim — that Joshlin had been transported via container ship — was reportedly made by Smith multiple times during the investigation.
What Were the Prosecution’s Claims?
Prosecutors argued that Kelly Smith “sold, delivered or exchanged” her daughter, and then lied about her disappearance. The underlying motive, they said, stemmed from money and a connection with a sangoma who allegedly expressed interest in Joshlin for her pale skin and unique eye color.
A local pastor also testified during the trial, revealing that in 2023, he had heard Smith discussing plans to sell her children for 20,000 rand each — the equivalent of about $1,100 or £850. “She had said she was even willing to accept a lower figure of $275,” the pastor said.
While the judge did not reach a definitive conclusion about who the child was sold to or the exact details of the transaction, the weight of witness testimony was enough to convince the court.
What Was the Courtroom Reaction?
The verdict was delivered on Friday, May 2, 2025.
As Judge Erasmus read out the guilty findings, the packed courtroom erupted. Observers clapped. Some cried. Others stood in stunned silence.
Kelly Smith wiped tears from her eyes. Steveno van Rhyn, for reasons no one could explain, broke into a smile. All three defendants — Smith, Appollis, and van Rhyn — were found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking. They now face the possibility of life in prison.
Outside the courthouse, emotions ran high. Crowds of supporters gathered, many chanting, “We want Joshlin back!"
Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking moments came after the trial, when Kelly Smith’s own mother addressed the media. Amanda Daniels-Smith had been present during the verdict and didn’t hold back.
“She must tell me where my grandchild is,” she said. “I’m angry. I don’t want to see her.”
Has the Sangoma Been Found?
During the investigation, a woman believed to be the sangoma was arrested and questioned. However, she was later released due to insufficient evidence.
Authorities have not named her publicly, and no charges have been brought against her.
The police have vowed to continue their search for Joshlin, and no new suspects have been announced.
What Has Been the Broader Impact?
Joshlin’s case has triggered widespread outrage and sparked serious conversations in South Africa about child trafficking, poverty, and the exploitation of vulnerable families.
In Middelpos, where Joshlin lived, parents have told local media they are fearful for their own children’s safety — even more than a year after the young girl’s disappearance.
The trial has also brought national attention to the darker aspects of traditional healing practices in South Africa. While sangomas are legally recognized under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, unscrupulous individuals posing as healers have been linked to rituals involving body parts, often under the guise of good luck charms.
What Happens Next?
Smith, Appollis, and van Rhyn await sentencing, with hearings set to begin in the coming weeks. All three remain in custody and are facing the possibility of life behind bars.
Meanwhile, the question that continues to haunt South Africa remains unanswered: where is Joshlin Smith?
Despite the guilty verdicts, no trace of Joshlin has ever been found. And until that changes, her story will remain one of South Africa’s most painful unresolved tragedies.