Saldanha Bay: A South African mother, Kelly Smith, has been sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and trafficking of her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who disappeared over a year ago. The case, which drew significant national attention, culminated in life sentences for Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their accomplice, Steveno van Rhyn.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, a witness revealed during the trial that the child was sold to a traditional healer for 1,100 US dollars. The sentencing, delivered by Judge Nathan Erasmus, included an additional 10 years for each of the accused on charges of kidnapping. The trial was relocated to a sports center in Saldanha Bay, allowing the local community to witness the proceedings.
Joshlin’s disappearance in February 2024 initiated a widespread search across South Africa. Initially, the community viewed Smith as a victim and rallied to support the police in their efforts to locate the young girl in their impoverished neighborhood near Saldanha Bay. Images of Joshlin, smiling with her hair in pigtails, were circulated extensively during the search.
The situation took a grim turn when Smith was apprehended. Testimony during the trial indicated that Smith, in coordination with the two men, sold her daughter for 1,100 US dollars to a traditional healer with the intent of using the child for her body parts. The judge’s decision did not specify the identity of the buyer or the ultimate fate of Joshlin, but it confirmed her sale for purposes akin to slavery. Unfortunately, Joshlin remains missing to this day.