Guilty! But Joshlin's still missing

I just want my grandchild back. It doesn't matter how long they are going to stay in jail.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

IT’S the cry that echoed beyond the courtroom walls, past the fences and streets of Saldanha Bay, and into the hearts of a nation gripped by the disappearance of a child.

As Judge Nathan Erasmus delivered a verdict of guilt against Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen “Boeta” Appollis, and their friend Steveno “Steffie” van Rhyn for the kidnapping and trafficking of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, spontaneous applause broke out in the gallery.

The 6-year-old girl went missing on February 19, 2024, from her Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, home.

She missed school that morning as her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, claimed she had been sick and then told others her daughter's uniform was dirty.

The trio was arrested two weeks after Joshlin went missing. On Thursday, more than 200 people were allowed to go inside White City Multipurpose Centre to listen to the proceedings, and many others remained across the street.

Kelly's mother, Amanda Smith Daniels, said: “I just want my grandchild back. It doesn’t matter how long they are going to stay in jail, but my grandchild is still gone... Kelly must tell me where my grandchild is, that’s all. I am angry at Kelly because nobody knows if Joshlin is still alive, and I don’t want to see her (Kelly).”

Joshlin’s paternal grandmother, Louretta Yon, said: “I am very happy that the judge convicted the three. I hope the judge will give them two life sentences. But that doesn’t matter though. What matters is that Joshlin is not with us.