A South African court on Thursday sentenced Racquel “Kelly” Smith to life in prison after finding her guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, in a case that has shocked the nation.
Joshlin disappeared in February last year from her home in Saldanha Bay, a coastal town about 135 kilometres north of Cape Town. Despite extensive efforts, she has never been found.
Smith, 35, was convicted of selling her daughter for 20,000 rand (around $1,100). Her boyfriend and a mutual friend, who were also implicated in the crime, received the same life sentence for human trafficking. Additionally, all three were sentenced to 10 years for kidnapping, to run concurrently.
Delivering the verdict, Judge Nathan Erasmus ordered their names be added to the child protection register. He described Smith as “manipulative” and said she had shown “no indication of remorse” or concern for her daughter’s disappearance. “There is nothing redeeming in your conduct that warrants a lighter sentence,” he stated.
Smith, the mother of three, sat expressionless through the hearing. The ruling was met with cheers in the courtroom, where Joshlin’s grandmother was also present, wearing a shirt printed with photos of the missing girl.
Joshlin’s disappearance had initially sparked national sympathy and a countrywide search. Her bright green eyes and cheerful smile appeared in countless social media posts, and a government minister even offered a one-million-rand ($54,000) reward for information leading to her safe return.
However, the narrative shifted dramatically when prosecutors alleged that Smith had sold her daughter to a traditional healer who was interested in her eye colour and fair complexion. Though the judge did not confirm who Joshlin was sold to or why, testimony during the trial included a teacher and a pastor who claimed Smith had mentioned her plan as early as 2023.
Despite the convictions, Joshlin’s whereabouts remain unknown. Police confirmed on Thursday that the search for the missing child has now been extended beyond South Africa’s borders.
South Africa continues to grapple with a high crime rate, particularly involving children. Police recorded more than 17,000 kidnapping cases in the 2023/2024 financial year — an 11% increase from the previous year, though the ages of victims were not specified.
Joshlin’s case remains one of the most harrowing examples in recent memory, and authorities say the investigation will remain open until she is found.
