Racquel "Kelly" Smith, along with her boyfriend and a friend, was convicted in a widely publicized case that has shocked the nation, following the disappearance of her daughter outside their home in 2024.
Mother Sentenced to Life for Kidnapping and Trafficking Her Daughter in South Africa
Mother Sentenced to Life for Kidnapping and Trafficking Her Daughter in South Africa
A South African woman and her accomplices receive life sentences for the kidnapping of her six-year-old daughter, who remains missing.
A South African woman, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, has been handed a life sentence for her involvement in the kidnapping and trafficking of her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith. Along with her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, Smith was convicted in a case that has drawn significant media attention and outrage across the country.
Joshlin vanished in February 2024 from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, and despite an extensive search effort, her whereabouts remain unknown. The courtroom proceedings, which spanned over six weeks, revealed disturbing testimonies and allegations during the trial. This haunting case has left the community with lingering questions and heartbreak as they await any news about Joshlin's fate.
As the story develops, further details are anticipated in what continues to be a pivotal situation in South Africa's ongoing fight against child trafficking and abuse.
