Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
In a case that has horrified South Africa and drawn international condemnation, Racquel “Kelly” Smith has been sentenced to life in prison for trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who remains missing to this day. The sentencing took place in a highly publicized court session in the Western Cape, where two other individuals Smith’s boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and family friend Steveno van Rhyn were also handed life sentences for their involvement in the crime.
Joshlin disappeared from her home in Saldanha Bay, a fishing town on South Africa’s west coast, in February 2024. Her sudden disappearance sparked nationwide outrage and an intense search campaign. Initially, Smith appeared in media interviews as a distraught mother pleading for her daughter’s return. However, as the investigation deepened, authorities discovered that Smith had allegedly conspired to sell her daughter to a traditional healer, or “sangoma,” for 20,000 South African rand (approximately $1,100). The child, known for her light skin and green eyes, was believed to be targeted for a ritual killing, a practice still reported in some parts of the country despite being illegal and widely condemned.
The trial revealed deeply disturbing details. More than 30 witnesses testified against Smith and her co-accused, recounting that Smith had discussed selling not only Joshlin but possibly her other children for as little as £200 (roughly 4,800 rand) each. Smith admitted to being under the influence of drugs at the time, but the court, led by Judge Nathan Erasmus, dismissed this as no excuse for her calculated actions. Erasmus labeled Smith “manipulative, cold-hearted, and devoid of remorse.” He further noted that despite the emotional damage done, Smith showed no empathy even when confronted with her daughter’s continued disappearance.
To date, Joshlin has not been found. The South African Police Service has widened the investigation beyond national borders, fearing that the child may have been trafficked across regions. A reward of 1 million rand (approximately $55,000) remains in place for any credible information leading to her whereabouts. Community-led searches, tip-offs, and support from various child protection organizations continue, though no substantial breakthroughs have been made.
This case has drawn attention to the growing crisis of child trafficking in South Africa. Government statistics revealed that in the year leading up to March 2024, more than 17,000 children were reported kidnapped or missing, marking an 11% increase over the previous year. Human rights activists have urged the government to tighten monitoring systems, improve inter-agency collaboration, and increase educational campaigns to combat the beliefs that drive ritual killings and trafficking.
Joshlin’s remaining siblings have since been placed under the care of their maternal grandmother, Amanda Daniels, who wept outside the courtroom after the verdict. She described her daughter’s actions as “inhuman” and said the family would never be the same. “We only pray Joshlin is still alive somewhere,” Daniels told reporters.
As the nation continues to mourn the fate of a young girl betrayed by her own mother, the case has become a symbol of the urgent need for stronger child protection laws, community vigilance, and national efforts to end the brutal realities of child trafficking in Africa.
