A South African mother sold her six-year-old daughter to a traditional healer for $1,100 because of the child’s coveted eyes and skin complexion, earning her a life sentence in a case that shocked the nation.
Key Takeaways
- Racquel “Kelly” Smith received a life sentence for trafficking her daughter Joshlin Smith, who remains missing since February 2024.
- Smith’s boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn also received life sentences plus 10 years for kidnapping.
- The court heard that Smith sold her daughter to a traditional healer specifically interested in the child’s eyes and complexion.
- Judge Nathan Erasmus rejected drug use as a mitigating factor and noted the defendants showed no remorse.
- The case highlights South Africa’s growing kidnapping crisis, with over 17,000 cases reported in 2023/2024, an 11% increase.
Mother’s Unthinkable Betrayal
In a disturbing case that has gripped South Africa, Racquel “Kelly” Smith has been sentenced to life imprisonment for trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith. The young girl disappeared from Saldanha Bay in February 2024 and has never been found despite extensive search efforts. Prosecutors successfully proved that Smith sold her own daughter for 20,000 rand ($1,100) to a traditional healer who had a specific interest in the child’s eyes and complexion. The case initially generated national sympathy and prompted a massive search operation throughout the Western Cape region before investigators discovered the horrifying truth behind the disappearance.
Judge Nathan Erasmus delivered a scathing assessment of Smith’s actions while handing down the maximum possible sentence. The court heard testimony from Joshlin’s teacher and a pastor during the trial, painting a picture of complete maternal betrayal. Smith’s complete lack of concern for her daughter’s wellbeing particularly disturbed the court. Police have now extended their search for Joshlin beyond South Africa’s borders, though hopes of finding the child alive have diminished as time passes without any credible leads.
Accomplices Face Justice
Smith did not act alone in this heinous crime. Her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their mutual friend, Steveno Van Rhyn, were also sentenced to life imprisonment for human trafficking with an additional 10 years for kidnapping. The judge ordered all three defendants’ names to be entered into South Africa’s child protection register, permanently barring them from working with children. The trio’s drug use, which defense attorneys attempted to present as a mitigating factor, was firmly rejected by Judge Erasmus, who found nothing to justify reducing their sentences for such an egregious violation of trust and human dignity.
“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, Western Cape High Court Judge.
The judge specifically noted that the defendants showed “no indication of remorse” throughout the proceedings. This callousness particularly struck observers in the courtroom, as Smith appeared unmoved by discussions of her daughter’s fate. The case has deeply disturbed the South African public, especially after initial outpourings of community support when Joshlin was first reported missing. A government minister had even offered a one-million-rand ($54,000) reward for information leading to Joshlin’s safe return before the mother’s involvement was discovered.
South Africa’s Kidnapping Crisis
This case highlights a disturbing trend in South Africa, where kidnappings have reached alarming levels. Over 17,000 kidnappings were reported in the 2023/2024 financial year, representing an 11% increase from the previous year. The Joshlin Smith case gained nationwide attention partly because it embodied parents’ worst fears in a country already struggling with high crime rates. The trafficking aspect of this case is particularly concerning, as it suggests networks that exploit children may be operating with sophistication across borders, making recovery of victims like Joshlin extremely difficult Stated Steveno Van Rhyn
Despite the sentences handed down, questions remain about what exactly happened to Joshlin and whether she might still be found alive. Police have not disclosed all details of their investigation, particularly regarding the identity of the traditional healer who allegedly purchased the child. The severe sentences reflect both the gravity of the crime and South Africa’s determination to combat child trafficking through maximum penalties. However, for a public deeply invested in Joshlin’s fate, justice remains incomplete without answers about what happened to the innocent six-year-old after she was sold by her own mother.
