Kelly Smith must tell us where Joshlin is, says founder of missing persons organisation

 Community members and child rights activists say true justice will remain out of reach in the case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith until her mother, Kelly Smith, reveals the girl’s whereabouts. This sentiment echoed strongly on Friday at the Western Cape High Court, where sentencing proceedings for those convicted in the case were discussed.

Kelly Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and his friend Steveno van Rhyn, appeared in court for a pre-sentencing hearing. The trio was previously found guilty of trafficking the young girl to a sangoma (traditional healer) for R20,000 in February 2023. The sentencing proceedings have been scheduled to take place from 27 to 29 May at the Saldanha Bay Magistrates Court.

The disappearance of Joshlin Smith has gripped the community of Saldanha Bay and beyond, sparking widespread outrage and heartbreak. Despite the conviction of those responsible, the child has never been found — a haunting fact that continues to fuel public frustration and anguish.

On Friday, the courtroom’s public gallery was filled to capacity. Among those in attendance was Veranique Williams, founder of the Faith and Hope Missing Persons organisation based in Mitchells Plain. Williams has played a key role in advocating for Joshlin since the beginning of the case and continues to demand answers on behalf of the child and the broader community.

“I agree fully with the community when they say that justice will not be served in not finding Joshlin,” Williams said. “I think that we first need to find Joshlin before justice can truly be served. Kelly needs to talk and tell us where her child is. I assume she knows where her child is.”

Her comments reflect the widespread belief that Kelly Smith is withholding critical information that could lead authorities to her daughter. Despite the guilty verdict, the absence of Joshlin’s body or confirmed location continues to cast a shadow over the legal process.

Kelly Smith must disclose her daughter Joshlin’s whereabouts,

The court also heard that a human trafficking expert is among the key witnesses lined up to testify during the sentencing hearings. Legal experts say the testimony of such an expert may shed light on the broader networks involved in the trafficking of vulnerable children, a crime that continues to plague parts of South Africa.

For many in the courtroom and beyond, the legal outcome will feel incomplete as long as Joshlin remains missing. Activists and ordinary citizens alike have called for a renewed focus on locating the child, emphasizing that justice is not just about punishment, but about truth, closure, and accountability.

The Joshlin Smith case has brought national attention to the deeply troubling issues of child trafficking and exploitation in the country. The brazen nature of the crime — involving the sale of a child by her own mother — has shocked the public and highlighted the urgent need for stronger community protections and more robust child welfare systems.

As the May sentencing hearings approach, emotions remain high. Community members have pledged to continue attending court in support of Joshlin and to demand transparency from those convicted, particularly Kelly Smith.

One Saldanha Bay resident who was present at the court on Friday said, “It’s not just about putting people behind bars. We want to know what happened to that little girl. We want to bring her home, whether alive or not. That’s the only way justice can be done.”

While the justice system prepares to hand down sentences, the court of public opinion is clear: the truth about Joshlin Smith’s fate remains the most crucial piece of this tragic puzzle. Until that truth is revealed, many believe the case cannot be considered fully resolved.

Calls for Kelly Smith to break her silence are growing louder by the day. Advocates insist that even now, it is not too late for her to come forward with the information that could end the painful uncertainty surrounding her daughter’s disappearance.

As the date of sentencing draws closer, South Africans watch with bated breath — not just for punishment, but for answers, for resolution, and most of all, for justice that includes the recovery of a lost child.