SOUTH AFRICA – A South African woman, Kelly Smith (also known as Racquel Chantel Smith), and her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, have been sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and human trafficking of Smith’s six-year-old daughter, Joshlin. A third man, Steveno van Rhyn, also received a life sentence for his involvement in the horrific crime.
The sentencing took place yesterday at a sports centre in Saldanha Bay, chosen by Judge Nathan Erasmus to allow community members to attend. All three were additionally handed 10-year sentences for kidnapping.
Joshlin went missing in February 2024, sparking a nationwide search in South Africa. Despite extensive efforts, the young girl has still not been found.
Initially, Kelly Smith garnered sympathy from the community, who rallied to help search for Joshlin in the sand dunes near their impoverished neighborhood of shacks. However, the case took a shocking turn when Smith was arrested.
During the trial, a witness testified that Smith had confessed to selling Joshlin, along with Appollis and van Rhyn, for approximately £750 to a traditional healer who allegedly desired the child for her body parts. While the judge’s verdict did not definitively state who the child was sold to or her exact fate, it concluded that Joshlin had been sold for “slavery or practices similar to slavery.”
The disappearance and subsequent conviction have rocked South Africa, highlighting the grim realities of human trafficking and the vulnerability of children. The search for Joshlin continues, as authorities and the public hold onto hope for her safe return.
