Mum sold daughter, 6, for 'her eyes and skin' as she's asked 'how do you sleep'

RACQUEL 'KELLY' SMITH WAS CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING AND TRAFFICKING HER DAUGHTER JOSHLIN SMITH ALONG WITH HER BOYFRIEND JACQUEN APPOLLIS AND THEIR FRIEND STEVENO VAN RHYN 09:53, 30

May 2025Updated 09:59, 30 May 2025 Heart-wrenching footage of a six-year-old girl, who was sold by her own mother for her "eyes and skin" left a courtroom in tears. Racquel

'Kelly' Smith was found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter Joshlin, along with her partner Jacquen Appollis and their acquaintance Steveno van Rhyn. The trio were

all sentenced to life imprisonment following a six-week trial at a community centre in Saldanha, South Africa. The court heard that Joshlin was sold to a traditional healer, and a video of

the young girl was shown in court. A court interpreter was moved to tears while translating victim impact statements into English. Judge Nathan Erasmus delivered the sentences at a sports

centre in Saldanha Bay, where the trial was relocated to accommodate members of the local community. Joshlin went missing in February 2024, at the age of six, sparking a nationwide search by

South African police. Article continues below Unfortunately, she remains missing, reports the Mirror. Victim impact statements were read out in court by Joshlin's grandmother and a

family friend who had intended to adopt her. "How do you sleep [and] live with yourself?" Amanda Smith-Daniels asked her daughter in her statement. Edna Maart, a teacher, expressed

her shock at Joshlin being sold by her own mother, describing the young girl as quiet and "very tidy", according to the BBC. During the trial, a witness claimed that Smith had

discussed selling her children for 20,000 rand (£850) each, while another alleged she intended to hand over her daughter to a healer known as "sangoma" for her "eyes and

skin". A local pastor also testified, claiming he heard Smith mention she would have settled for a mere $275 (£204). The young girl's fate remains a mystery despite extensive

searches following her disappearance. Smith initially garnered sympathy after her daughter vanished last year, with neighbours scouring sand dunes near their Middelpos home during a

large-scale search. She maintained that she left her daughter with Appollis on the day she disappeared in February and hadn't seen her since. However, Judge Erasmus condemned

Smith's behaviour last week, stating: "The conduct of ... Ms Smith is not that of a concerned parent. And why not? In my mind, the only inference is that you knew (what

happened)." The case against Smith and her co-accused has gripped South Africa, culminating in cheers in the courtroom as they received life sentences. Article continues below Presiding

Judge Nathan Erasmus stated that he "drew no distinction" between Smith, her boyfriend, and their friend Van Rhyn prior to delivering the sentences. He declared: "On the

human trafficking charge, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. On the kidnapping charge, you are sentenced to 10 years imprisonment."