A mother in South Africa is on trial for allegedly kidnapping and selling her young daughter. Kelly Smith, also known as Racquel Chantel Smith, is accused of organizing the abduction of her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin, in February 2024. Smith denies the charges, claiming she did not plan to sell her daughter.
The trial began on Monday in a sports hall in Saldanha Bay, a small coastal town about 72 miles north of Cape Town. Alongside Smith, two men are also facing charges: her partner, Jacquin Appollis, and her friend, Steveno van Rhyn. All three have pleaded not guilty.
Joshlin went missing on February 19, 2024, prompting a nationwide search by police. Despite extensive efforts to locate her, she has not been found. Smith initially garnered sympathy from the community, with neighbors joining the search for Joshlin in the sand dunes near their home. Smith claims she left Joshlin with Appollis on the day of her disappearance and has not seen her since.
The prosecution alleges that Smith had been planning to sell Joshlin and her two other children since August 2023. They claim that on the day Joshlin was reported missing, she and her mother were seen getting into a white vehicle with a bag of clothes. Another woman who was arrested in connection with the case is expected to testify as a state witness.
The case has stirred strong emotions in the local community. Crowds gathered outside the trial venue, calling for Joshlin’s safe return. Similar protests occurred during a previous hearing in March 2024. The police continue to seek information about Joshlin’s whereabouts, with an appeal still active on the South African Police Service website.
If found guilty, Smith, Appollis, and van Rhyn could face life in prison. The trial is ongoing, and the community remains hopeful for Joshlin’s safe return.