South African woman sentenced to life for trafficking 6-year-old daughter

A South African woman has been handed a life sentence for orchestrating the disappearance and sale of her six-year-old daughter, a case that sparked national outrage.

The child, Joshlin Smith, vanished in February last year from her home in Saldanha Bay—a coastal town located about 135 kilometers north of Cape Town and has remained missing ever since.

Her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, was convicted of abducting and trafficking the young girl, allegedly receiving 20,000 rand (approximately Sh144,824) in exchange.

Judge Nathan Erasmus sentenced Racquel Smith, 35, along with her boyfriend and a mutual friend, to life imprisonment for human trafficking.

In addition to the life terms, the trio received a concurrent 10-year sentence for the kidnapping charge.

Erasmus also directed that their names be added to the national child protection register.

"There is nothing redeeming in your actions that would warrant a lighter sentence than the harshest one I can impose," the judge stated.

Smith attended the court hearing and remained expressionless throughout the hour-long proceeding.

The judge described the mother of three as manipulative, noting that she showed "no indication of remorse" or concern for Joshlin’s disappearance.

The verdict was met with cheers from those present in the courtroom.

Joshlin’s grandmother attended the court hearing wearing a white shirt featuring images of the missing girl.

At the time of Joshlin’s disappearance, Smith was initially viewed with sympathy, which led to a large-scale national search effort.

Photos of Joshlin, highlighting her striking green eyes, bright smile, and brown pigtails, quickly spread across the internet.

The case captured nationwide attention, prompting a government minister to announce a one-million-rand (Sh390, 962) reward for her safe return.

However, the situation took a shocking turn when prosecutors revealed that Smith had sold her daughter to a traditional healer, reportedly attracted by Joshlin’s eyes and fair skin.

The judge’s ruling did not disclose the identity of the buyer or the reasons behind the sale.

During the trial, which began in March, witnesses included the girl’s teacher and a pastor, who testified that the mother had confided in him about her plan to sell the child in 2023.

Authorities announced on Thursday that the search for Joshlin had been expanded beyond South Africa’s borders.

South Africa faces one of the world’s highest crime rates, with child kidnappings on the rise. According to police data, more than 17,000 kidnappings were reported during the 2023/2024 financial year—an increase of 11% from the previous year. The statistics do not specify the ages of the victims.