Kelly Smith Faces Sentencing as Pressure Grows to Reveal Joslin’s Whereabouts
SALDANHA BAY, WESTERN CAPE – Kelly Smith, convicted of kidnapping and human trafficking in the disappearance of her 7-year-old daughter Joslin, will be sentenced on 27 May 2025 at the Western Cape High Court. The case has drawn national outrage, with Save the Children demanding the maximum penalty and condemning Smith’s refusal to reveal Joslin’s whereabouts.
Key Details of the Case:
- Joslin vanished in February 2024; her mother, boyfriend Steveno Van Rhyn, and associate Jacquin Appolis were arrested weeks later.
- Convicted in May 2025, the trio was found guilty after a two-month trial held at the White City Community Centre in Saldanha Bay.
- State witness Lourentia Lombaard testified that Smith sold Joslin to a sangoma for R20,000, splitting the money with her accomplices.
- Save the Children’s Megan Breide slammed Smith’s silence: “She has chosen not to tell us where Joslin is.”
Courtroom Tensions:
- Judge Nathan Erasmus expressed frustration when the convicted trio arrived an hour late to a recent hearing, delaying sentencing procedures.
- The accused refused to testify during the trial, relying on witness accounts, including testimony from Smith’s sister and a former employee.
Calls for Justice:
Advocates urge the court to consider:
⚠️ Joslin’s age and vulnerability
⚠️ The premeditated nature of the crime (evidence suggested plans to sell Joslin as early as 2023)
⚠️ Smith’s ongoing refusal to cooperate
Source: Briefly News