A woman in South Africa has been sentenced to life in prison for selling her 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who remains missing. The case has drawn significant public attention and concern across the nation.
Racquel Smith, 35, was convicted after a three-month trial in which she, along with two men, was found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter for exploitation. The judge, Nathan Erasmus, noted that Smith displayed no remorse during the proceedings and continued to lie about her actions.
The girl disappeared in February 2024 from a home in Saldanha Bay, where she lived with her mother, two siblings, and her mother's boyfriend. Despite extensive searches by police, naval officers, and community members, Joshlin has not been located.
Prosecutors revealed that Smith, who struggled with drug addiction, sold her daughter for approximately $1,100. The case garnered such public interest that court proceedings were held in a community center and broadcast on national television.
During the trial, neither Smith nor the two co-defendants chose to testify. On May 2, the judge ruled that the child had been sold into slavery, prompting prosecutors to advocate for a life sentence given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding her whereabouts.
Eric Ntabazalila, a spokesperson for South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, emphasized the importance of giving a voice to the missing child, stating, “We do not have her, we do not know where she is.”
Despite the conviction, many questions about Joshlin's disappearance remain unanswered, as Smith has not provided any information regarding her daughter’s fate. Rita Yon, the girl's paternal grandmother, expressed her anguish over the situation, stating, “We are still missing Joshlin. It doesn’t feel nice not knowing where she is, what she eats or drinks and how the people who have her treat her.”