**Mother and Accomplices Sentenced to Life in Jail for Trafficking Missing Six-Year-Old Daughter**

In a landmark decision, a South African court has sentenced Racquel 'Kelly' Smith to life imprisonment for trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who has been missing for over a year. The ruling was delivered on May 29, drawing a conclusion to a harrowing case that has garnered widespread national and international attention.

Smith was convicted alongside her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their associate, Steveno van Rhyn, for kidnapping and selling Joshlin in February 2024. Prosecutors revealed that Smith handed over her daughter to a traditional healer, known locally as a sangoma, in exchange for 20,000 rand, approximately £800. This grim transaction unfolded in Saldanha Bay, a coastal town northwest of Cape Town, sparking significant outrage and extensive searches by the community.

Judge Nathan Erasmus, who presided over the case, expressed profound sorrow not only for Joshlin's disappearance but also for the systemic failures that may have contributed to it. He lamented the lack of adequate social services and support that Smith should have received, noting that her grandmother had initially sought help from the Department of Social Development as far back as 2016.

According to court testimonies, Smith struggled with long-term drug addiction, unstable housing, and a history of neglect. A social worker's report painted a distressing picture of Smith's chaotic life, underscoring her inability to provide proper care for Joshlin from the outset.

While the court's decision brings some measure of justice, Joshlin Smith's whereabouts remain unknown, leaving lingering questions and an enduring pain for those involved in the continued search.