Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, her partner Jacquen Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn were sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and trafficking Kelly’s 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin, who disappeared in February 2024 in Western Cape, South Africa. Authorities are still searching for Joshlin.

Witnesses revealed Kelly discussed selling her children for money, and a neighbor testified that Kelly sold Joshlin to a traditional healer for her eyes and skin. Judge Nathan Erasmus condemned Kelly’s long history of instability and noted earlier warnings from her grandmother in 2016, criticizing the social system’s failure to help her.

Kelly struggled with drug addiction and homelessness from a young age. A social worker described her life as “in chaos,” unable to care for Joshlin, who was temporarily cared for by a family friend. Attempts to adopt Joshlin failed due to lack of parental consent.