In a case that has gripped South Africa and sparked national outrage, a mother and two accomplices have been sentenced to life imprisonment for trafficking a six-year-old girl who remains missing to this day. The harrowing case unfolded in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, where the local community was left devastated by the betrayal and loss.
Racquel Chantel Smith, widely known as Kelly Smith, was convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping, alongside her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their mutual friend, Steveno van Rhyn. All three were handed life sentences for human trafficking and an additional ten years each for kidnapping, as delivered by Judge Nathan Erasmus on Thursday.
Due to the enormous public interest and the emotional toll the case has taken on the local community, the sentencing was held in a local sports center rather than the usual courtroom. This allowed dozens of community members, who had once rallied behind Smith during the search for her missing daughter, to witness the conclusion of a case that shocked even seasoned legal professionals.
A Community Betrayed
The tragedy began in February 2024, when six-year-old Joshlin Smith disappeared from her home in a low-income neighborhood near Saldanha Bay. Her sudden vanishing sparked an extensive nationwide search and drew immense public sympathy.
At the time, Kelly Smith appeared as a heartbroken mother. She wept publicly and was seen collaborating with police and volunteers, pleading for her daughter’s safe return. Media coverage of the missing child flooded South African airwaves and social media, with Joshlin’s picture—bright-eyed and smiling, her hair styled in neat pigtails—becoming an iconic symbol of hope.
But that hope was soon shattered when shocking new details emerged.
A Sinister Twist
The narrative changed dramatically when police arrested Smith just weeks after her daughter disappeared. Evidence began to surface suggesting that she was not the grieving mother she portrayed but was, in fact, complicit in Joshlin’s disappearance.
During the trial, a key witness stunned the courtroom with damning testimony. According to the witness, Smith had confessed to selling her own daughter with the help of Appollis and van Rhyn. The trio allegedly handed over the child for approximately $1,000 to a traditional healer—also known as a “sangoma”—who reportedly wanted the child for ritualistic purposes involving human body parts.
Although the identity of the buyer remains unknown, and Joshlin’s fate has never been conclusively determined, Judge Erasmus confirmed in his ruling that the child had been sold into what constitutes slavery or practices akin to slavery.
“Whether for rituals, servitude, or other nefarious purposes, the act of trafficking this child—your own flesh and blood—is unforgivable,” Erasmus declared. “You robbed South Africa of a child and destroyed the innocence of a community that trusted you.”
No Closure, Only Justice
To this day, Joshlin Smith has not been found. Despite nationwide appeals, media coverage, and police investigations, her whereabouts remain unknown. The uncertainty surrounding her fate continues to haunt her relatives and the broader South African public.
Prosecutor Marelize Engelbrecht described the case as “one of the most disturbing examples of betrayal by a parent” and emphasized that no sentence could undo the trauma inflicted on Joshlin or the nation.
“This was not just a legal crime. It was a moral collapse,” Engelbrecht told reporters outside the sports center turned courtroom. “We hope today’s sentencing brings some semblance of justice to those mourning Joshlin’s disappearance.”
A Cautionary Tale for South Africa
The case has reignited national debates on child protection, human trafficking, and ritual killings—issues that continue to affect vulnerable communities across South Africa. Child rights activists are now calling for stricter monitoring of at-risk families and stronger penalties for traffickers.
Speaking after the verdict, Lebo Mokoena, a spokesperson for ChildSafe South Africa, urged the government to increase efforts to combat human trafficking: “We cannot allow another child to be lost this way. This case should serve as a wake-up call to all institutions responsible for child welfare.”
He added, “No child is safe if even a mother can be persuaded to sell her own daughter.”
A Painful Legacy
For residents of Saldanha Bay, the emotional toll of the case will linger for years. Many in the close-knit coastal community feel deeply betrayed by Smith, who had at one point been the face of their collective search for Joshlin.
“We searched day and night for that little girl,” said Marina Claassen, a community leader who had participated in the search efforts. “We brought food, we put up flyers, we even consoled her [Smith]. To find out she was involved—it’s heartbreaking.”
Local officials have announced plans to build a memorial in Joshlin’s honor, regardless of whether her remains are ever recovered. “We want future generations to remember Joshlin—not just for how she died or disappeared, but for the way her case shook us awake,” Claassen added.
Final Words
As Judge Erasmus concluded the sentencing, he addressed the courtroom and the nation: “Let this verdict be a message. South Africa will not tolerate the trafficking of its children. We must protect those who cannot protect themselves. Joshlin Smith deserved safety, love, and a future. Instead, she was betrayed by those meant to guard her most fiercely.”
Although Joshlin remains missing, the legal chapter of her story has closed with the maximum penalty allowed by South African law. Yet, for many, the emotional and societal reckoning is only beginning.
