The Western Cape High Court in Saldanha Bay has sentenced three individuals, including the mother of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, to life imprisonment for human trafficking and kidnapping in a case that has gripped the nation.
Kelly Smith, the child’s mother, along with her accomplices Jacquen Appollis and Steveno Van Rhyn, received life terms for their roles in the trafficking of Joshlin. Additionally, they were sentenced to 10 years for kidnapping. Due to the severity of the life sentence, the court ruled that the terms would run concurrently.
During the sentencing, the presiding judge confirmed that the convicted individuals understood their sentences before ordering their names to be added to the National Child Protection Register, barring them from any future contact with minors.
The case has drawn widespread outrage and renewed calls for stricter measures against human trafficking in South Africa. Authorities have yet to disclose further details regarding Joshlin’s current whereabouts or condition, but the sentencing marks a significant step in a deeply disturbing case.