South African mother sentenced to life in prison for selling her young daughter due to requested physical attributes, while the girl is still missing

A mother who sold her six-year-old daughter to a ‘healer’ for just £800 has been jailed for life in South Africa.

Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, 35, was convicted of kidnapping and trafficking along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn.

Joshlin Smith, a young girl with a light complexion and turquoise eyes, went missing in February from her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, and has not been found since.

During the trial that lasted six weeks, it was revealed in court that a ‘healer’ targeted Smith because of her distinctive features, offering her mother a small sum of money in exchange for her.

The accused individuals were given their sentences by Judge Nathan Erasmus, who stated, ‘You are sentenced to life imprisonment for the human trafficking charge and 10 years imprisonment for the kidnapping charge.’

He said he ‘drew no distinction’ from each other in their evil crime and the cold-hearted group showed no emotion as their sentences were read out.

The shocking trial has captivated South Africa for the last few months, with Joshlin still missing despite a major search operation.

Joshlin’s grandmother, who now cares for her daughter’s eldest child, pleaded with Smith ahead of the sentence to ‘bring my [grand]child back or tell me where she is’. 

Little Joshlin Smith, who has a fair complexion and turquoise eyes, disappeared last February after vanishing outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town

The cold-hearted group – boyfriend Jacquen Appollis (left), friend Steveno van Rhyn (centre) anfd mother Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith (right) – showed no emotion as their life sentences were read out

A court heard during the six-week trial how Joshlin was sought out by a ‘healer’ for her ‘light eyes and skin’, with the mother reportedly only receiving around £800 for her

Amanda Smith-Daniels later told local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that ‘I don’t feel that any sentence they get will bring my grandchild back’. 

Her family has been left ‘broken’ and blasted her daughter for blaming others over the tragedy when she ‘was the person that did the deed’.

‘How do you sleep [and] live with yourself?’ she asked the callous mother in her victim statement on Wednesday.

Smith and her accomplices refused to testify during the trial or call on any witnesses for their defence but more than 30 people were brought in to tell the court about Joshlin’s troubled life and disappearance. 

Lourentia Lombaard, Smith’s friend and neighbor, told the community centre acting as a court so locals could attend that Smith had admitted to her she had done ‘something silly’ in a shocking confession.

In the days before Joshlin disappeared, the mother confessed to her that she had sold her child to a ‘sangoma’ – a traditional healer. 

Ms Lombaard said she later saw Smith pack some of Joshlin’s clothing into a black bag, which she was carrying when she met a woman she believes was the sangoma.

Smith climbed into a white car with Joshlin and the sangoma and they drove away, according to Lombaard.

One of Joshlin’s teachers said Smith told them suring one of the searches for Joshlin that she was already ‘on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa’. 

In the days before Joshlin disappeared, the mother confessed to her that she had sold her child to a ‘sangoma’ – a traditional healer – who wanted her for her complection

 A local pastor told the court that he heard Smith, who has three children, talk about selling them for 20,000 rand, which is the equivalent of £827

The shocking trial has captivated South Africa for the last few months with Joshlin still missing despite a major search operation 

Joshlin’s grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, pleaded with her daughter ahead of the sentence to ‘bring my [grand]child back or tell me where she is’

In the days before Joshlin disappeared, the mother confessed to a neighbour that she had sold her child to a ‘sangoma’ – a traditional healer (pictured in January)

During one of the searches for Joshlin, Smith admitted that she was already ‘on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa’ (pictured earlier this month)

Members of the public react after the group were found guilty on charges of human trafficking and kidnapping

A social worker tasked with writing a report on the trio wrote that it would not be a ‘stretch to conclude that Smith is the mastermind behind the trafficking of her own daughter’. 

The court also heard from a local pastor who said that he heard Smith, who has three children, talk about selling them for 20,000 rand, which is the equivalent of £827.

Smith had allegedly been happy to settle for even less, willing to sell Joshlin for £200.

It was only once all the victim statements had been read yesterday alongside a video clip of Joshlin laughing that Smith finally cried .

Joshlin’s father, Jose Emke, also broke down and had to be carried out of the courtroom.

The youngster was described by her teacher Edna Maart as ‘very tidy’ and a quiet pupil.

Every day since Joshlin left she is plagued by questions of her whereabouts by her school friends – Ms Maart said she struggles to give them an answer.

They play her favourite gospel song God Will Work It Out at the start of the day so that the class can feel she is with them.

The youngster was described by her teacher Edna Maart as ‘very tidy’ and a quiet pupil

 Joshlin’s class play her favourite gospel song God Will Work It Out at the start of the day so that they can feel she is with them

Protesters gathered outside the courthouse during the verdict hearing with many in the community calling on the judge to give them a ‘harsh sentence because they deserve it’

Smith and her accomplices refused to testify during the trial or call on any witnesses for their defence

Police said children’s clothing had been recovered near the settlement of small houses where Joshlin lived (pictured)

The courtroom sobbed when the song was played for them to hear. 

A woman believed to be the sangoma was arrested alongside the other defendants last year, but the charges against her were dropped due to a lack of evidence. 

Sangomas are recognised in South Africa under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007. It is believed they can access ancestral spirits who guide their healing. 

In March, police said children’s clothing had been recovered near the settlement of small houses where Joshlin lived and was sent to a laboratory for forensic examination.

Community members who are also involved in the search said the clothing was spattered with blood and a knife was also found. Police didn’t give any more details on what was discovered. 

Western Cape province police commissioner Thembisile Patekile told reporters during the trial that more arrests could be made, but authorities also had to re-focus on the search for Joshlin.

‘At this stage, we do not have a child,’ he said. ‘Our ultimate goal is to find the child. We still want to find that child alive.’

Smith’s youngest child now lives with his father.