• Kelly Smith and two men received life sentences for selling her 6-year-old daughter.
• The child, Joshlin, disappeared in February 2024 and remains missing.
• A witness claimed the girl was sold to a traditional healer for body parts.

A judge sentenced Kelly Smith to life in prison for selling her 6-year-old daughter. Two men, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, also got life sentences. They all faced charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. The judge gave each of them 10 more years for the kidnapping charge. The courtroom moved to a local sports center in Saldanha Bay so the community could watch. People filled the venue to hear the final verdict. Judge Nathan Erasmus read the sentences out loud. The case shocked the country and left many still searching for answers.

Joshlin went missing in February and has never been found

Joshlin Smith disappeared in February 2024 when she was only 6 years old. She lived in a poor neighborhood in Saldanha Bay, about 75 miles north of Cape Town. Her disappearance sparked a national search. Police, volunteers, and neighbors searched beaches, dunes, and neighborhoods. Her photo appeared on news stations across South Africa. In the photo, she wore pigtails and a smile. People hoped for good news. But the story took a heartbreaking turn. Authorities never found Joshlin. Her fate remains unknown, even after the trial.

Community first believed the mother was a victim

At first, people believed Kelly Smith was heartbroken. They thought she had lost her daughter. Community members helped her search. Volunteers joined police and looked through the nearby sand dunes. Many felt sorry for her. She stood in front of news cameras and asked for help. People shared her pain and supported her. But everything changed when police arrested her. The story quickly changed from one of sympathy to horror. The mother was no longer seen as a victim. She became a suspect in her own daughter’s disappearance.

Testimony revealed the child was sold for money

During the trial, a witness gave disturbing testimony. She said Smith told her that she and the two men sold Joshlin. They wanted money. The buyer was a traditional healer. The witness claimed the healer wanted the girl for her body parts. Smith reportedly got around \$1,000 for the child. This testimony shocked the court. People could not believe a mother could do this. The judge listened carefully but made no ruling on who the buyer was. He also did not confirm what happened after the sale. But he said clearly that Joshlin was sold into slavery or something like it.

Public trial allowed community members to watch justice

Because the case drew national attention, the court moved the sentencing to a sports center. The town of Saldanha Bay filled with reporters and locals. People wanted to see justice. The judge gave strong sentences to all three criminals. Kelly Smith, whose full name is Racquel Chantel Smith, stood next to the two men. All three now face life in prison. But the story does not end there. The country still wants answers. Joshlin remains missing. Her picture still haunts many people. Her story has become a symbol of a deeper problem.

Sentencing ends trial but not the heartbreak

The court delivered justice, but the pain remains. South Africans continue to ask where Joshlin is. People want to know what happened to her. Even though the three adults now sit in prison, the mystery is far from over. The police never recovered the child. The trial gave no clear answer about her fate. For now, the nation remembers Joshlin as a smiling child who vanished too soon. The case reminds everyone to stay alert and protect the most vulnerable. Many now hope for new clues or witnesses who can help bring closure.