A South African mother sold her 6-year-old daughter to a traditional healer for just $1,100 because the child had “desirable eyes and complexion,” leading to a life sentence that shocked the nation.
Key Takeaways
- Racquel “Kelly” Smith was sentenced to life imprisonment for trafficking her six-year-old daughter Joshlin, who remains missing since February 2024.
- Smith’s boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn also received life sentences for human trafficking plus 10 years for kidnapping.
- The mother sold her daughter to a sangoma (traditional healer) for 20,000 rand ($1,100), specifically because of the child’s “desirable eyes and complexion.”
- Despite a nationwide search and a 1-million-rand ($54,000) reward, Joshlin Smith has not been found, with authorities now searching beyond South Africa’s borders.
- The judge noted the defendants showed “no indication of remorse” and rejected their drug addiction as a mitigating factor.
Mother’s Unfathomable Betrayal
In a case that has gripped South Africa, Racquel “Kelly” Smith received the maximum sentence possible after being convicted of trafficking her own daughter. The Western Cape High Court handed down life sentences to Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn for their roles in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith. The young girl vanished from Saldanha Bay in February 2024, setting off a massive nationwide search operation that ultimately revealed a disturbing truth: her own mother had sold her to a traditional healer.
Judge Nathan Erasmus showed no leniency in his sentencing, adding an additional 10 years imprisonment for kidnapping charges on top of the life sentences for human trafficking. The court heard shocking evidence that Smith had received 20,000 rand (approximately $1,100) for her daughter, who was specifically targeted by a sangoma because of her physical attributes. During the trial, prosecutors established that the child’s eye color and skin complexion were the motivating factors behind this heinous transaction.
No Remorse for Horrific Actions
Throughout the proceedings, the court was struck by the callous attitude displayed by all three defendants, particularly Kelly Smith. Judge Erasmus specifically cited their complete lack of remorse as a significant factor in his decision to impose the harshest possible penalties. The defendants attempted to use their drug addiction as a mitigating circumstance, but the judge firmly rejected this argument, finding no excuses for their actions against an innocent child.
“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,” said Judge Nathan Erasmus, High Court Judge.
The judge specifically noted Smith showed “no indication of remorse” for her actions. This cold indifference was particularly striking given the harrowing nature of the crime – a mother deliberately selling her young daughter into an unknown fate. School teachers and a local pastor provided testimony during the trial, painting a picture of a vulnerable child who had been discarded by the very person meant to protect her above all others.
National Search Continues
The disappearance of Joshlin Smith initially generated an outpouring of public sympathy and support, with a government minister even offering a one-million-rand ($54,000) reward for information leading to her safe return. As the investigation progressed, however, the focus shifted to those closest to her. Despite the convictions, the most pressing question remains unanswered: Where is Joshlin? Law enforcement has expanded their search beyond South Africa’s borders, but so far without success.
The case highlights the grim reality of human trafficking in South Africa, where official statistics show over 17,000 kidnappings were reported in the 2023/2024 financial year alone – an alarming 11% increase from the previous year. The sentencing of Kelly Smith and her accomplices sends a powerful message about the consequences of such crimes, but offers little comfort without the recovery of Joshlin. The child protection registry entry ensures none of the defendants will ever again be permitted to work with children Stated Steveno Van Rhyn
Justice Served, But Questions Remain
While the life sentences represent justice for the unthinkable betrayal committed against Joshlin Smith, the case remains open in the most important sense. Police continue their exhaustive search for the missing girl, following leads that suggest she may have been taken outside the country. The traditional healer allegedly involved in purchasing the child has not been publicly identified in court documents, raising questions about possible accomplices still at large and the broader network that facilitates such trafficking.
“No indication of remorse,” According to Judge Nathan Erasmus, High Court Judge.
The Joshlin Smith case has forced South Africans to confront the dark reality of human trafficking within their borders, particularly the exploitation of children. While the criminal justice system has succeeded in punishing the perpetrators with the maximum penalties available, the tragedy of a missing six-year-old girl continues to haunt the nation. For now, the focus remains on finding Joshlin and bringing her home, though the circumstances of her disappearance and the time that has passed leave many fearing the worst.
