**Mother Sentenced to Life for Trafficking Missing Daughter in South Africa**

Fri Jul 18 2025 16:53:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
**Mother Sentenced to Life for Trafficking Missing Daughter in South Africa**

The chilling case of Joshlin Smith, a missing six-year-old, leads to life sentences for her mother and two accomplices.


In a harrowing turn of events in South Africa, a mother was sentenced to life in prison for selling her daughter, Joshlin, who remains missing.

Racquel Smith, 35, received this sentence on Thursday in the west coast town of Saldanha Bay after being found guilty of child trafficking along with two men. Prosecutors highlighted Smith's struggles with addiction, which they say played a role in her disturbing decision to sell Joshlin for 20,000 rand, approximately $1,100. The missing girl disappeared in February 2024, when she was last seen in a shared shack with her mother and siblings.

During the trial, presiding Judge Nathan Erasmus expressed that the accused showed no remorse and continued to lie about the facts of the case. The court proceedings captured national attention, showcasing the deep impact that the case of the missing girl has had on the community, culminating in proceedings being held in a local center and broadcast on television.

Despite intensive searches conducted by police and community members, Joshlin's whereabouts remain unknown. Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of the crime, noting the long-term implications for a child sold into slavery. Eric Ntabazalila, spokesman for South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, reaffirmed the absence of the child during the trial highlighted the need for justice on her behalf.

Amid the agony of unanswered questions, Joshlin's paternal grandmother, Rita Yon, has publicly reached out for information about her granddaughter’s fate, sharing her family's ongoing heartache. The community remains in shock, grappling with the realities of such a tragedy, as many continue to question the fate of little Joshlin and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

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