BY: Hassan Osman Kargbo
A South African woman, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, has been sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and trafficking of her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, whose mysterious disappearance in February 2024 sparked national outrage and heartbreak.
Smith was sentenced alongside her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn. All three were found guilty and handed life sentences following a six-week trial in the Western Cape that gripped the nation with its disturbing details and emotional testimonies.
Joshlin disappeared from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, a coastal town northwest of Cape Town, more than a year ago. Despite an intense, high-profile search campaign involving police, volunteers, and community members, the young girl has never been found.
The court heard harrowing evidence during the trial, including witness accounts and forensic findings that pointed to a deliberate and premeditated act. Prosecutors alleged that Smith conspired with Appollis and van Rhyn to traffic her daughter for financial gain.
Judge Thandi Mbeki, delivering the sentence, described the crime as “an unimaginable betrayal of trust” and a “heinous act that shocks the conscience of society.” She added that Smith had “violated the most sacred duty of a parent — to protect their child.”
The courtroom was packed on sentencing day, with many members of the Saldanha Bay community in attendance. Outside the courthouse, demonstrators carried signs demanding justice for Joshlin and calling for harsher penalties for crimes against children.
The case sparked widespread media attention from the moment Joshlin was reported missing in early 2024. Her disappearance triggered vigils, community searches, and a massive social media campaign under the hashtag #FindJoshlin. As hope for her safe return faded, the case turned from a missing persons investigation into a criminal probe, with Smith and her accomplices arrested several weeks later.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution detailed how the trio coordinated the abduction, offering damning evidence that included communications between the accused and testimony from witnesses who claimed to have overheard plans to sell the child.
Despite the convictions and sentencing, the fate of Joshlin remains unknown. Authorities have vowed to continue the search for the missing girl, and police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
“This sentence sends a strong message,” said Western Cape Police Commissioner Elias Phiri. “But our work is not over. We are still committed to finding Joshlin and uncovering the full truth behind her disappearance.”
As the nation reflects on a case that has deeply shaken public trust, the hope of finding Joshlin — or at least learning what happened to her — remains a lingering and painful question.
