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The three individuals found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking in the high-profile case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith will learn their fate on 29 May. The child’s mother, Kelly Smith, along with co-accused Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, appeared briefly in the Western Cape High Court on Thursday, where the timeline for their sentencing proceedings was finalized.
The trio was convicted last week for orchestrating a plan to sell Joshlin to an unknown individual for R20,000, a plot that horrified the nation and drew intense public scrutiny. Joshlin was last seen in February 2024, when she vanished from her family home in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, setting off a widespread search effort and a wave of community concern.
Judge proceedings confirmed that formal sentencing arguments will begin on 27 May at a High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay. The court will first hear arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentence, giving both the prosecution and the defense an opportunity to present final perspectives before sentencing is handed down.
The accused will remain in custody at Pollsmoor Prison until 23 May, when the case will be transferred back to the multi-purpose court centre in Saldanha Bay for the upcoming sentencing proceedings
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has indicated that the sentencing phase will be comprehensive and include multiple voices from the community. According to NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, the State intends to introduce victim impact statements collected by a social worker from residents in the affected community.
“These statements will show how the case has impacted the community of Saldanha Bay,” said Ntabazalila. “Joshlin’s disappearance shook the country, and the residents continue to live with the trauma of what happened. Their voices deserve to be heard in court.”
The NPA also plans to call on a trafficking-in-persons expert as a witness to support the argument for a harsher sentence. The expert is expected to explain the broader implications of human trafficking in South Africa and the psychological, social, and emotional damage it inflicts on both individuals and communities.
“The case is not just about Joshlin,” added Ntabazalila. “It is a reflection of a deeper, troubling issue in our society—the commodification of vulnerable lives. We want the court to see that this is not a case that can be treated with leniency.”
The chilling details that emerged during the trial shocked the public. Evidence presented by the State revealed that Kelly Smith and her two friends actively plotted to exchange her six-year-old daughter for money, betraying not only the child’s trust but the trust of an entire community. Despite extensive search operations and national attention, Joshlin’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the ongoing uncertainty has left emotional scars across Saldanha Bay and beyond.
Joshlin Smith Kidnappers Face Sentencing
Joshlin’s case has also raised urgent questions about child protection, parental trafficking networks within South Africa. Advocacy groups have called on the government to increaresponsibility, and humanse investment in community education, child safety programs, and law enforcement efforts to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Meanwhile, the public has closely followed every development, with many demanding the harshest possible sentences for the three convicted individuals. On social media and in local community meetings, voices have echoed a shared sense of grief, betrayal, and anger over the loss of Joshlin and the apparent ease with which her life was bartered.
The court’s decision on 09 May will mark a pivotal moment not only for the accused but also for a nation grappling with the realities of human trafficking and child exploitation. The outcome may set a significant legal precedent and serve as a sobering reminder of the lengths to which criminal networks—and even those closest to a child—can go in pursuit of financial gain.
As the sentencing phase approaches, the NPA has reiterated its commitment to justice for Joshlin. “We owe it to her and to every other child at risk to make sure that crimes like these are not met with silence or light consequences,” Ntabazalila said.
The upcoming court dates—23 May for the case transfer and 27 May for sentencing arguments—will pave the way for the final verdict on 29 May, bringing this heartbreaking chapter closer to its conclusion.