Local sources from South Africa: BBC, BBC.
UK coverage: Sky News.
In a harrowing conclusion to a case that has captured the nation’s attention, Racquel Chantel Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their associate Steveno Van Rhyn have been sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa for the kidnapping and trafficking of Smith’s six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith. The young girl, who disappeared over a year ago, has yet to be found, amid claims she was sold to a traditional healer for her ‘eyes and skin.’ The trio, who at first garnered public sympathy and assistance in searching for Joshlin, were later exposed for their heinous plans that also included intentions to sell Smith’s other two children. The sentencing judge dismissed any attempt to justify their actions through drug use, emphasizing the severity of their crimes with the maximum possible penalty. This landmark case, unfolded in a trial that gripped the nation, involved over 30 witnesses and exposed a chilling narrative of betrayal, prompting a nationwide police search and a public outcry for justice. Despite the grim outcome, the National Prosecuting Authority has hailed the life sentences as a critical victory in the fight against human trafficking, while authorities have vowed to continue the search for the missing girl. The community of Middelpos, where the family resided, and the broader South African public have been left to grapple with the unsettling implications of this case on child safety and the underbelly of criminal networks exploiting the vulnerable. As the search for Joshlin Smith continues, this sentencing marks a significant, though somber, milestone in South Africa’s ongoing battle against human trafficking.
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