A South African court on Friday found Racquel “Kelly” Smith guilty of trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin, who has been missing since early 2024, delivering a verdict that has sparked outrage and heartbreak across the country.
The ruling follows a high-profile two-month trial that captivated national attention and left a community in mourning. The case was heard in Saldanha Bay, a small fishing town about 135 kilometers (80 miles) north of Cape Town, where Joshlin disappeared. The girl’s striking green eyes, bright smile, and brown pigtails became a haunting symbol of loss and betrayal for many South Africans.
Smith, 35, was convicted alongside her boyfriend and a mutual friend on charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. The trio never took the stand during the trial. Judge Nathan Erasmus, who presided over the case, described the evidence as overwhelming and disturbing.
“I have already found that, based on the evidence before me, Joshlin was exchanged,” said Erasmus, adding that the court had heard from 35 state witnesses whose testimonies painted a chilling picture of betrayal. “The evidence is clear: there were payments, or at least promises of payment,” he said. The judge accused Smith of treating her daughter as a “commodity,” highlighting the transactional nature of the alleged crime.
Key testimony came from a range of individuals close to Smith. Witnesses, including a schoolteacher and a pastor, claimed Smith had spoken about selling her daughter as far back as 2023. Others recounted that Smith had admitted receiving 20,000 rand (about $1,085) in exchange for Joshlin in February 2024. Prosecutors also alleged that Joshlin was sold to a traditional healer who had taken interest in her eye color and light complexion—an allegation that added a disturbing cultural element to the case.
The courtroom proceedings were held in a local community hall, a choice made to accommodate the larg number of attendees and heightened public interest. Outside, community members gathered in support of Joshlin, chanting “We want Joshlin back” throughout the trial. When the verdict was announced, applause erupted as relief and anger coursed through the crowd.
At the outset of the case, Smith had drawn public sympathy, appearing distressed in media interviews and pleading for help to find her missing daughter. Her story gripped the country, prompting officials—including South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie—to offer rewards for Joshlin’s safe return. McKenzie notably pledged a one-million-rand (roughly $54,000) reward, underscoring the level of concern and hope that surrounded the search.
However, public sentiment shifted dramatically as more details emerged. Prosecutors alleged that Smith had been disturbingly calm during the frantic search for Joshlin, showing little urgency or grief. Witnesses reported a lack of emotional response from Smith, even as volunteers and police scoured the region in hopes of finding the child alive.
South Africans grieves the presumed loss of a young girl whose disappearance has shaken the nation.
While Joshlin’s body has not been recovered, the court concluded there was sufficient evidence to convict Smith and her co-accused of trafficking and kidnapping. The whereabouts and fate of the little girl remain unknown.
“You are guilty of trafficking in persons in relation to Joshlin Smith,” Judge Erasmus told the accused during Friday’s session. “On count two, you are also convicted of kidnapping.”
The sentencing phase has been adjourned but could lead to life imprisonment for those involved. The verdict, while offering a measure of justice, has left many questions unanswered—and a nation still grieving.
Joshlin’s disappearance and the subsequent revelations have ignited national conversations about child safety, poverty, and the vulnerabilities of children in underprivileged communities. Advocates are calling for stronger interventions and systemic change to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
For now, South Africa mourns the likely loss of a young girl who became a symbol of innocence stolen—and whose story may never fully be told.
