A South African woman, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin, alongside her accomplices, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, after a highly publicized trial. Despite extensive search efforts since Joshlin’s disappearance in February 2024, she remains missing, and testimonies revealed shocking allegations, including that Smith sold her daughter to a traditional healer. Judge Nathan Erasmus emphasized the trio’s lack of remorse and the profound impact on their community during the sentencing, which drew strong emotional reactions from residents.
