A woman from South Africa has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the sale of her 6-year-old daughter.
On May 29, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa, a judge imposed a life sentence on Kelly Smith, alongside her boyfriend and an accomplice, both of whom also received life sentences. The trio was found guilty earlier this month of offenses related to kidnapping and human trafficking.
The daughter of Smith, identified as Joshlin, was reported missing in February 2024, leading to an extensive search operation conducted by law enforcement across the nation. To date, she remains unaccounted for.
In addition to their life sentences for human trafficking, Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their associate Steveno van Rhyn each received ten years for the charge of kidnapping. The sentencing was delivered by Judge Nathan Erasmus at a sports facility in Saldanha Bay, where the trial had been relocated to facilitate community attendance.
Initially perceived as a victim when her daughter disappeared, Smith—whose complete name is Racquel Chantel Smith—garnered sympathy from community members who actively participated in the search for Joshlin amidst the sand dunes of their impoverished neighborhood located approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Cape Town.
During the search efforts, a photograph of Joshlin, smiling with her hair styled in pigtails, was widely circulated by news outlets throughout South Africa.
Smith claimed she had left Joshlin in the care of Appollis on the day of her disappearance; however, the case took a distressing turn upon Smith’s subsequent arrest.
During the trial, a witness testified that Smith had confessed to selling Joshlin for approximately $1,000 to a traditional healer who intended to use the child’s body parts.
While the judge’s ruling did not clarify who ultimately purchased the child or the specifics surrounding her fate, it was stated that she had been sold into slavery or for practices akin to slavery.
