A South African mother who sold her six-year-old daughter for just $1,100, targeting the child for her distinctive eyes and skin, has been sentenced to life in prison as the missing girl’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Key Takeaways
- Racquel “Kelly” Smith received a life sentence for trafficking her six-year-old daughter Joshlin, who disappeared in February 2024 and remains missing.
- Smith sold her daughter to a traditional healer for 20,000 rand ($1,100), specifically because of the child’s unique eyes and complexion.
- Two accomplices—Smith’s boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn—also received life sentences plus 10 years for kidnapping.
- The judge ordered all three defendants’ names be entered into South Africa’s child protection register and noted their complete lack of remorse.
- Police have expanded the search for Joshlin beyond South Africa’s borders as hope dims for finding the missing child.
Mother’s Betrayal Shocks South Africa
The horrifying case of Joshlin Smith has captivated South Africa since the six-year-old disappeared from Saldanha Bay in February last year. What initially began as a sympathetic nationwide search operation quickly transformed into a shocking criminal investigation when evidence emerged that the child’s own mother had trafficked her. Racquel “Kelly” Smith showed no maternal instinct or concern during the investigation, raising suspicions among authorities that eventually led to her arrest along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Stated Steveno Van Rhyn.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Smith had sold her daughter to a traditional healer known as a sangoma. The traditional practitioner specifically targeted the child because of her distinctive eyes and complexion, paying a mere 20,000 rand ($1,100) for the little girl. This revelation shocked the country and transformed what had been a sympathetic missing person case into a disturbing example of human trafficking where the perpetrator was the victim’s own mother, entrusted with her protection.
Justice Served with Maximum Sentences
Western Cape High Court Judge Nathan Erasmus showed no leniency when sentencing Smith and her accomplices, handing down life imprisonment for human trafficking plus an additional 10 years for kidnapping. The judge emphasized that the defendants’ drug use provided no excuse for their heinous actions. He further condemned their complete absence of remorse throughout the proceedings, noting the particularly disturbing nature of a mother selling her own child for profit.
“I am also ordering the entry of your names to the child protection register. There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming and deserving of a lesser sentence than the harshest I can impose,” Stated Judge Nathan Erasmus, Western Cape High Court Judge.
The judge further noted the defendants showed “no indication of remorse” throughout the trial, which included testimony from Joshlin’s teacher and a pastor. This callous disregard for the child’s wellbeing featured prominently in the judge’s decision to impose the maximum possible sentence. The ruling sends a powerful message in a country where kidnapping cases have surged by 11% in the past year, with over 17,000 reported during the 2023/2024 financial year.
Search Continues as Hope Fades
Despite the convictions and sentences, the most important aspect of the case remains unresolved—Joshlin Smith’s whereabouts are still unknown. The case initially generated tremendous public support, with a government minister offering a one-million-rand ($54,000) reward for information leading to her safe return. Despite this substantial incentive and an extensive search operation, no trace of the young girl has been found, leading authorities to expand their investigation beyond South Africa’s borders.
The tragic case highlights the vulnerability of children even within their own families and the devastating impact of drug addiction on parental decision-making. While Smith and her accomplices will spend decades behind bars, their refusal to cooperate with authorities regarding Joshlin’s whereabouts has denied closure to the community that once rallied to find the missing girl. The case stands as a stark reminder of the dark reality of human trafficking, where victims can be betrayed by those who should be their fiercest protectors.
