A court in South Africa has sentenced a woman to life imprisonment for kidnapping and selling her six-year-old daughter, a case that has shocked the nation.
Joshlin Smith disappeared in February last year from her home in Saldanha Bay, a fishing town located 135km north of Cape Town, and she has never been found.
Her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, was convicted of kidnapping and selling her daughter for reportedly 20,000 rand (€990).
Judge Nathan Erasmus ordered that 35-year-old Smith, along with her two accomplices—a boyfriend and a friend—also receive life sentences for human trafficking.
“I am also directing the inclusion of your names into the child protection register,” Judge Erasmus stated.
“I can find nothing redeeming that would warrant a lesser sentence than the strictest I can impose,” he remarked.
Smith was present during the proceedings, maintaining an impassive expression throughout the hour-long session.
The judge characterized the mother of three as manipulative, indicating that she had shown “no signs of remorse” or concern over the loss of Joshlin.
The courtroom erupted in cheers following the verdict.
Joshlin’s grandmother was also in attendance, wearing a white shirt adorned with images of the young girl.
Joshlin’s grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, was present in court for the sentencing hearing.
Initially, Smith was seen as a sympathetic figure when her child went missing, prompting a vast nationwide search.
Images showcasing Joshlin’s striking green eyes, broad smile, and brown pigtails spread rapidly across the internet.
The case attracted significant national interest, including an offer from a minister for a one-million-rand reward for her safe return.
However, the situation escalated when prosecutors alleged that Smith sold her daughter to a traditional healer, intrigued by her eyes and fair complexion.
The judge did not specify in his ruling who the girl was sold to or the reasons behind the sale.
A protester holds a photo of Joshlin outside Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court on 13 March 2024.
Witnesses in the trial, which commenced in March, included the girl’s teacher and a pastor, who testified that Smith had confided in him about her plans to sell her child in 2023.
Authorities have stated that they have broadened the search beyond South Africa’s borders.
South Africa experiences one of the highest crime rates globally, with an alarming rise in child kidnappings.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, there were over 17,000 kidnappings recorded, an 11% increase from the previous year, according to police statistics. The data, however, does not specify the ages of the victims.
