A South African court convicted Racquel “Kelly” Smith, 33, on May 2, 2025, of human trafficking for selling her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, for 20,000 rand ($1,085) in February 2024.
The Western Cape High Court in Vredendal delivered the guilty verdict after a trial that gripped the nation, revealing the child’s disappearance from Saldanha Bay remains unsolved. Smith, arrested with three co-accused, including her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, faced charges of trafficking and kidnapping, with prosecutors proving she handed Joshlin to an unidentified buyer in a clandestine deal. The case, one of 700 trafficking incidents reported in South Africa in 2024, exposed vulnerabilities in impoverished communities, where 60% live below the poverty line.
Evidence included witness testimonies and phone records showing Smith’s negotiations, with the court dismissing her claim of innocence as “fabricated.” Joshlin, last seen playing outside her home, prompted a 10,000-person search involving drones and navy divers, costing $500,000.
The trial revealed Smith’s drug addiction and prior neglect reports, with 30% of Saldanha children in similar at-risk households. The judge ordered Smith’s detention pending sentencing on June 15, facing up to life imprisonment. Co-accused, including Appollis, await separate hearings, with one suspect’s case dropped for lack of evidence.
The verdict has spurred calls for stronger child protection laws, as South Africa’s 15% child trafficking rate alarms authorities. The government allocated $10 million for anti-trafficking units, but 50% of cases remain unresolved due to underfunding. Community leaders demand social grants reach 80% of eligible families, up from 40%, to curb desperation-driven crimes. Joshlin’s fate, with no trace after 15 months, underscores the 1,000 missing children reported annually, fueling national grief and demands for justice.