A South African mother has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith — a case that has gripped the nation and left a community devastated.
Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn were each handed life terms by Judge Nathan Erasmus in the Western Cape High Court, which held proceedings in a community centre in Saldanha Bay.
“On the human trafficking charge, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. On the kidnapping charge, you are sentenced to 10 years imprisonment,” Erasmus declared to loud applause from courtroom attendees, per BBC News.
The judge noted he "drew no distinction" between the trio, stating: "There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming or deserving of a lesser sentence."
Despite the sentencing, Joshlin’s fate remains unknown. She vanished in February 2024 from her home in Middelpos, a coastal settlement near Cape Town. More than a year later, the search continues.
Chilling Testimony and a Devastated Family
During the six-week trial, more than 30 witnesses provided gut-wrenching details about Joshlin’s life and the events leading up to her disappearance. Smith and her co-accused refused to testify or call any witnesses.
The most damning testimony came from neighbor and state witness Lourentia Lombaard, who told the court that Smith admitted to selling Joshlin to a traditional healer, or sangoma, who wanted her “for her eyes and skin.” Lombaard testified: “She said, ‘I did something silly. I sold my child to a sangoma.’” She claimed Smith even packed Joshlin’s belongings into a black bag before the alleged transaction.
Another local pastor testified that Smith once spoke of selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100), though she would have accepted $275.
Joshlin's teacher also alleged that Smith said her daughter was "on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa.”
Despite this mountain of testimony, Smith’s defense attempted to discredit Lombaard, citing her drug use. However, Lombaard held her ground: “She offered money to me and others in exchange for our silence,” she said.
The Mother's Version of Events
Throughout the investigation, Smith maintained that she had left Joshlin in the care of her boyfriend Appollis on the day the child disappeared.
According to state witnesses, Joshlin and her brother stayed home from school that day due to a lack of clean uniforms. Smith was in and out of the house, reportedly smoking drugs. According to state witness Laurentia Lombaard, who was present that day, Joshlin went missing sometime in the afternoon.
Shockingly, the disappearance wasn’t reported until 9:00PM.
At first, the community rallied around Smith. Authorities launched a high-profile search that included police, firefighters, and canine units combing sand dunes and coastal areas. A government minister even offered a one-million-rand (£41,400) reward for Joshlin’s safe return, The Sun reports.
But the public mood turned sharply after the arrest and trial. “She was the person that did the deed,” said Joshlin’s grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels. “I don’t feel that any sentence they get will bring my grandchild back.”
Joshlin’s Life Before She Vanished
Joshlin was born in October 2017 to Smith and her former partner Jose Emke.
Her short life was marked by instability. A social worker revealed that Smith, who struggled with substance abuse from the age of 15, was abusive when high. She even once threatened to stab her son.
The child wasn’t officially registered until five months after the legal deadline and spent much of her time in a cramped corrugated iron shack in Middelpos with her mother, siblings, and Appollis. A social worker described the home as offering “little in the way of privacy.”
When Smith entered rehab, family friend Natasha Andrews cared for Joshlin and attempted to adopt her. “We could have provided for her better than her mother,” Andrews told the court.
Joshlin’s schoolteacher, Edna Maart, described her as a quiet and tidy student. “To not forget her,” Maart said, the class plays Joshlin’s favorite gospel song, 'God Will Work It Out', each morning.
A video clip shown during the sentencing — of Joshlin laughing during a family vacation — reduced the courtroom to tears. Even the interpreter translating victim statements was overcome with emotion.
A Nation Asks: Where Is Joshlin?
Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile vowed the search would not end. “We will not rest until we find [out] what happened to Joshlin. We are continuing day and night looking for her.”
According to South African media, 632 children were reported missing last year alone, with over 8,700 missing over the past decade.
Despite the horrific revelations, Joshlin’s loved ones continue to hold out hope. A poem written by Natasha Andrews’ 14-year-old daughter Tayla was read in court, expressing the family’s anguish and longing.
“We just want to hug you again,” Andrews said in her victim statement. “You are our flower, our baby and our green-eyed child.”