A South African mother received a life sentence on Thursday for selling her daughter, who remains missing, in a tragic case that has captivated the nation. Racquel Smith, 35, was convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith, aged six, for 20,000 rand (approximately $1,100) to fund her drug addiction.
The judge, Nathan Erasmus, noted Smith's lack of remorse during the three-month trial held in Saldanha Bay. Alongside Smith, two accomplices, her boyfriend Jacquin Appollis and friend Steveno van Rhyn, were also sentenced to life imprisonment, the minimum penalty for child exploitation under South African law.
Joshlin disappeared from a makeshift home in February 2024, stirring public outrage and widespread media coverage, including national televised hearings to ensure community engagement. Despite extensive searches by local authorities and community volunteers, the child has yet to be located.
According to prosecutors, Smith's drug-addicted lifestyle motivated the sale of her daughter. During the trial, both Smith and her accomplices opted not to testify, while the judge confirmed the child had been sold into slavery.
Eric Ntabazalila, spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority, emphasized the dire situation surrounding the case, stating, “We do not know where she is,” highlighting the urgency behind the call for a severe sentence.
The girl’s paternal grandmother, Rita Yon, has expressed deep concern for her granddaughter’s well-being. “We still miss Joshlin,” she stated. “It doesn’t feel nice not knowing where she is or how she is treated.”
Throughout the proceedings, Smith remained silent about her daughter's fate, leaving many unanswered questions in the wake of her conviction.
