A South African woman, Kelly Smith, has been sentenced to life in prison for her involvement in the sale of her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin. Alongside her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, who also received life sentences, Smith was convicted of human trafficking and kidnapping. The trio had been found guilty earlier in the month.
The sentencing took place at a sports centre in Saldanha Bay, designed to accommodate members of the local community who wished to attend. Judge Nathan Erasmus delivered the sentences, emphasising the severity of their crimes.
Joshlin disappeared in February 2024, prompting a nationwide search in South Africa. Initially, Smith garnered sympathy as frantic efforts unfolded to locate her daughter, with many community members joining in the search near their impoverished neighbourhood. Images of a smiling Joshlin circulated widely in the media during this period.
The case took a distressing turn when evidence emerged linking Smith to the sale of her daughter. A witness testified that Smith confessed to selling Joshlin for approximately $1,000 to a traditional healer who intended to use the child for her body parts. While the judge did not speculate on the child’s fate or the identity of the buyer, he remarked that she had been sold for purposes akin to slavery.
To date, Joshlin remains missing, a fact that adds to the tragedy surrounding this case. The community’s initial support for Smith has been drastically overshadowed by the revelation of her crime, leading to a profound sense of betrayal among those who once rallied to help find her daughter.