A South African mother has been sentenced to life in prison for the disappearance of her daughter.
Racquel Smith, her boyfriend, and their mutual friend were found guilty over the disappearance of then six-year-old Joshlin Smith in February.
Joshlin disappeared from her mother’s home in south-west South Africa’s in February 2024. Police have still not found her.
This week, a court handed down life sentences for the trio, finding the child was likely kidnapped and trafficked.
Sentence
The ruling followed an eight-week trial, during which state prosecutors argued the trio had devised “an elaborate plan to sell Joshlin” to a local traditional healer for around 20,000 rand ($AU1,740).
Prosecutors believe the child was trafficked for “slavery or practices similar to slavery.”
One witness testified that Smith had said Joshlin was sold to a traditional healer who wanted the child for her “eyes and skin”.
The court “drew no distinction” in terms of criminal responsibility between the three accused, handing them all identical life sentences for trafficking, and an extra 10 years each for kidnapping.
In handing down his judgment, Presiding Judge Nathan Erasmus said the trio had shown “no indication of remorse” throughout the criminal proceedings.
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“There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming and deserving of a lesser sentence than the harshest I can impose,” he said.
The court also ordered that all three offenders be added to the national child protection register.
Comments
The case’s early stages garnered national attention and brought hundreds of people together in a search for Joshlin.
The Government called the court’s ruling this week “a bittersweet moment.”
Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the Government remains “steadfast in [its] commitment to uncovering the truth and ensuring that law enforcement continues to pursue every possible lead to find Joshlin.”
The Federal Police Commissioner similarly welcomed the courts’ judgment, saying it “must serve as a deterrent” for violence against women and children in the country.
Commissioner Fannie Masemola said a second phase of the search for Joshlin has begun.
“We are hoping we will find the child, wherever she is, she must still be found,” Masemola said.
