A South African woman, Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, has been found guilty of trafficking and kidnapping her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith.

Smith was convicted alongside her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and their friend, Steveno ‘Steffie’ van Rhyn, by the Western Cape High Court on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Delivering the judgment at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Judge Nathan Erasmus stated:
“The State succeeded in proving the guilt of Mr. Appollis, Mr. van Rhyn, and Ms. Smith on the main counts. Count one you are guilty of trafficking in persons. Count two you are guilty of kidnapping.”

The court found that Joshlin had been unlawfully deprived of her liberty. The high-profile case has deeply shaken the West Coast community and garnered national attention since the young girl was first reported missing from her Middelpos home on February 19, 2024. A large-scale manhunt and months-long investigation eventually led to the arrest of the three accused.

Erasmus noted that he would not yet address the Section 204 application concerning State witness Laurentia ‘Renz’ Lombaard, whose testimony was accepted as key evidence in the case.

Cheers erupted in the courtroom gallery when Judge Erasmus confirmed that Joshlin had, in fact, been exchanged. He emphasized to the accused that restricting the child’s liberty was a serious violation of the law.

State Advocate Zelda Swanepoel revealed that both Appollis and van Rhyn had prior convictions, while Smith had no previous criminal record. As the reality of the verdict sank in, Kelly Smith broke down in tears, while her co-accused appeared stunned.

Following the verdict, Judge Erasmus allowed relatives of the accused to briefly speak with them before they were led away. The matter has been adjourned to May 9, 2025, and will resume at the Western Cape High Court in Cape Town. Sentencing, however, will be delivered in Saldanha.

The trio will remain in custody pending sentencing proceedings. Outside the courtroom, emotions ran high — some members of the public wept, while others applauded the court’s ruling.

Western Cape Police Commissioner, General Thembisile Patekile, assured the public that the search for Joshlin Smith continues, stating that efforts remain active to locate the green-eyed child.