End of May sentencing for those convicted in Joshlin case

THE three convicted offenders in the kidnapping and human trafficking case of missing six-year-old Joshlin Smith will be sentenced at the end of May, Judge Nathan Erasmus announced during pre-sentencing proceedings at the Western Cape High Court.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, Jacquen 'Boeta' Appollis, and Steveno 'Steffie' van Rhyn - who were found guilty on May 2 appeared briefly as Erasmus confirmed that sentencing proceedings will take place over three days, from 27 to 29 May.

Unusually, the hearings will be held at the White City Multipurpose Centre in Diazville, Saldanha Bay, close to Joshlin's home and the community most directly affected by her disappearance.

The trio was convicted of kidnapping and trafficking Joshlin, who vanished from her Middelpos home in Diazville in February 2024. At the time, Joshlin had been left in the care of her mother's boyfriend, Appollis, while Smith claimed she was at work.