Faith Nyasuguta
A South African woman, Kelly Smith, went on trial Monday for allegedly kidnapping and selling her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin, in a case that has drawn national attention. Smith, whose full name is Racquel Chantel Smith, is charged with kidnapping and human trafficking, alongside her partner, Jacquin Appollis, and friend, Steveno van Rhyn.
Joshlin disappeared in February 2024, prompting a nationwide search, but she remains missing. Prosecutors allege Smith orchestrated her daughter’s abduction in exchange for payment. As the trial began in Saldanha Bay, all three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Due to the high public interest, the proceedings were moved to a larger venue, allowing the local community to attend.
Smith initially gained public sympathy, with neighbors assisting police in searching for Joshlin in dunes near their home. She claimed she had left Joshlin with Appollis on the day she disappeared and never saw her again. However, the case took a dramatic turn when police arrested Smith after questioning.
Prosecutors stated that Smith had been planning to sell Joshlin and her two other children since August 2023, though only Joshlin went missing. Witnesses reported seeing Smith and Joshlin entering a white vehicle with a bag of clothes on the day she was reported missing.
The community has reacted with outrage, with large crowds gathering outside the trial venue, chanting, “We want Joshlin back.” Local media reported heightened tensions as residents expressed anger and frustration over the case.
A fourth individual, a woman who was initially arrested, was later released and is expected to testify as a state witness. This could provide critical evidence against the accused.
Judge Nathan Erasmus stated that, if found guilty, Smith and her co-defendants could face life imprisonment. The trial continues as South Africans demand justice for Joshlin, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
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