Introduction to the Case
A South African woman was convicted Friday of kidnapping and selling her 6-year-old daughter in a case that horrified the country. The girl went missing more than a year ago and hasn’t been found.
The Disappearance and Investigation
Kelly Smith and two men — her boyfriend and their friend — were convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking over the disappearance of Smith’s daughter, Joshlin, who was 6 when she went missing in February 2024. Smith — whose full name is Racquel Chantel Smith — was initially a figure of sympathy when her daughter went missing. Community members rallied around her and volunteered to help police search for Joshlin in the sand dunes near their poor neighborhood of shacks close to the west coast town of Saldanha Bay, around 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Cape Town.
The Search for Joshlin
A photograph of Joshlin smiling and with her hair tied in pigtails was broadcast by news stations across South Africa as police then launched a nationwide hunt. Smith said she had left Joshlin with her boyfriend on the day she disappeared, but the case took a shocking twist when Smith was arrested.
The Trial and Verdict
A woman testified during the trial that Smith had told her she and the two men had sold Joshlin for around $1,000 to a traditional healer who wanted the child for her body parts. The judge’s verdict did not make any conclusions on who the child was sold to or exactly what happened to her. Smith, her boyfriend Jacquin Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn face life in prison and the judge said sentencing hearings will begin next week.
Reaction to the Verdict
People attending the trial cheered and applauded when Judge Nathan Erasmus read out the guilty verdicts. The trial was held in a Saldanha Bay sports center that had more space than a courtroom so that members of the community could attend.
Conclusion
The conviction of Kelly Smith and her accomplices brings some sense of justice to the community, but the whereabouts and fate of Joshlin remain a mystery. The case highlights the darker aspects of human trafficking and the need for continued efforts to protect vulnerable children.
FAQs
What was Kelly Smith convicted of?
Kelly Smith was convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking in relation to the disappearance of her 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin.
What happened to Joshlin?
Joshlin’s whereabouts and fate remain unknown, despite her mother’s conviction.
What is the possible motive behind the kidnapping?
A witness testified that Smith sold Joshlin to a traditional healer for around $1,000, allegedly for her body parts.
What are the possible sentences for the convicted individuals?
Kelly Smith, Jacquin Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn face life in prison, with sentencing hearings scheduled to begin next week.
