A 35-year-old South African mother and two accomplices have been sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and trafficking of her own six-year-old daughter Joshlin Smith an act that has shocked the nation and left a community devastated.

Racquel “Kelly” Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, were convicted of trafficking Joshlin, who vanished from her home in February 2024. Each received a life sentence for human trafficking and an additional 10 years for kidnapping.

This incident happened in February 2024 in Middelpos, a poor informal settlement in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape in South Africa, when Joshlin was reported missing after staying home from school because she allegedly had no clean uniform. More than a year later, she remains missing, and her whereabouts are still unknown.

The six-week trial, held in a community center to allow public access, revealed deeply disturbing details. Witnesses painted a picture of a mother who plotted to sell her own daughter for money.

Lourentia Lombaard, Smith’s friend and neighbor, testified that Smith confessed to selling Joshlin to a traditional healer locally known as a sangoma who allegedly wanted the girl for her eyes and skin.

Smith told me that the person who allegedly took Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin,” Lombaard told the court.

A local pastor also testified that Smith had previously spoken about selling her children for R20,000 each and was willing to accept even less down to R5,000 (about $275).

Another chilling revelation came from Joshlin’s teacher, who claimed Smith said shortly after the girl’s disappearance that Joshlin was already on a ship, inside a container, on her way to West Africa.

Throughout the trial, Smith declined to testify or present a defense. A court-assigned social worker described her as manipulative and untruthful.

’’All evidence points to Smith as the mastermind behind her daughter’s trafficking,” the social worker emphasized.

Smith, 35, and her accomplices showed no emotion as their sentences were read out in the community center in Saldanha, where the trial was held to allow residents to attend proceedings.

In delivering the verdict, Judge Nathan Erasmus condemned all three accused for showing no remorse.

“There is nothing redeeming about their actions to warrant a lighter sentence,’’ he said.

“On the charge of human trafficking, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. For kidnapping, an additional 10 years,” Judge Erasmus added.

The courtroom responded with applause as the sentences were read. The trio remained emotionless throughout.

In the front row, Amanda Smith-Daniels, Joshlin’s grandmother, sat wearing a T-shirt bearing the girl’s photo and a white rose pinned to her chest. After the hearing, she issued a tearful plea to her daughter.

“Bring my grandchild back or tell me where she is. No sentence will bring her back, but we deserve to know the truth,” Smith-Daniels pleaded.

She added that the family remains devastated and urged Smith to take responsibility for her actions.

Despite the convictions, police say the investigation is far from over. Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile promised that efforts to find Joshlin or uncover the truth about her fate will continue without pause.

“We will not rest until we find her. We are searching day and night even beyond South Africa’s borders,” he said.

Joshlin Smith’s story has shaken South Africa and highlighted the horrifying reality of child trafficking within families. Her disappearance is a symbol of stolen innocence and betrayal, one that continues to haunt her community and the country at large.

Even as justice is delivered, the pain of what was lost remains.