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A South African woman has been convicted of trafficking and kidnapping her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who disappeared over a year ago, in a case that has sparked national outrage and devastated the coastal town of Saldanha Bay.
The verdict was handed down on Friday following a two-month trial during which 35 state witnesses testified. Judge Nathan Erasmus found 35-year-old Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend, and a mutual friend guilty of human trafficking and kidnapping.
Erasmus concluded that the young girl had been “exchanged,” citing consistent testimony about payments or promises of money. Witnesses claimed Smith had admitted to selling her daughter for R20,000 ($1,085), allegedly to a traditional healer interested in the child’s green eyes and fair skin.
“You are guilty of trafficking in persons in relation to Joshlin Smith. On count two, you are also convicted of kidnapping,” the judge told the accused. He added that Smith viewed her daughter as a “commodity,” describing the sale as a transaction devoid of maternal care.
The sentencing phase has been postponed, though the charges carry potential life sentences. None of the three accused testified during the proceedings.
Joshlin vanished in February 2024, triggering a massive community search and national media attention. Images of her wide smile and distinctive green eyes circulated widely, drawing widespread sympathy. At the time, Smith publicly appealed for help in finding her daughter, attracting the attention of government officials, including Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, who offered a R1 million reward for her return.
However, public sentiment shifted when prosecutors revealed chilling details of Smith’s alleged sale of her daughter, including testimony from a local teacher and a pastor who both said the mother spoke about the planned sale months before the disappearance.
The trial took place in a community hall in Saldanha Bay, about 135 kilometres north of Cape Town. Outside, residents gathered during each hearing, chanting, “We want Joshlin back.” On Friday, the guilty verdict was met with applause from the assembled crowd.
Despite exhaustive search efforts by the community and police, Joshlin remains missing.
