More than 30 people testified in court about what happened to Joshlin Smith, who is still missing
A woman from South Africa has been sentenced after being found guilty, along with two others, of trafficking and kidnapping her six-year-old daughter.
The case stems from the disappearance of Joshlin Smith in February 2024. She went missing just outside her home in Saldanha Bay, located near Cape Town.
Joshlin is still missing today. But her mother, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn were brought to trial. They were accused of selling the little girl to a traditional healer, known locally as a sangoma. According to reports by the BBC, the healer allegedly wanted Joshlin specifically “for her eyes and skin.”
More than 30 people took the stand and shared disturbing details about what they believed happened to Joshlin. Earlier today (May 29), the judge handed down the final sentences for the three accused.
One of the witnesses, a neighbor named Lourentia Lombaard, testified on behalf of the state.
She claimed that Smith admitted to selling her daughter to a sangoma for 20,000 rand, which is roughly $1,100.
"The person who allegedly took Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin." Lombaard stated during her testimony.
In addition, a local pastor shared that he overheard Smith talking about selling her children back in 2023.
He remembered hearing different price tags mentioned including one as high as $1,100 and another as low as $275 suggesting the disturbing nature of these conversations.
Another troubling piece of testimony came from Joshlin’s teacher, who said Smith once mentioned that her daughter was being kept “inside a ship container” and was already “on the way to West Africa.”
The trial took place at the White City Multipurpose Centre. It lasted a total of eight weeks before wrapping up with today’s verdict.
Judge Nathan Erasmus didn’t see any difference in guilt among the three and made it clear during sentencing. He gave all of them the same punishment — life in prison.
As the judge delivered his decision, he broke it down clearly: "On the human trafficking charge, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. On the kidnapping charge, you are sentenced to 10 years imprisonment."
Meanwhile, efforts to find Joshlin are still going on. The police shared a statement with local news outlets about the ongoing search.
Thembisile Patekile, the police commissioner for the Western Cape, said: "We will not rest until we find out what happened to Joshlin. We are continuing day and night looking for her."
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that this sentencing sends a powerful message.
According to their findings, Joshlin had been “sold and delivered to the intended buyer” for the purpose of being exploited — specifically, for slavery or something similar to it.