After receiving a guilty verdict for her role in the disappearance of her six-year-old daughter, Kelly Smith’s home was set on fire, as frustrated community members demanded answers regarding who the toddler was trafficked to, in hopes of still finding her alive.
Kelly Smith, along with her co-accused Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, have been handed guilty verdicts by Judge Nathan Erusmus for one count of human trafficking and another for kidnapping, for the role in the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith. This horrific case took South Africa by storm, as the public was intrigued by its strange nature and wanted answers as to what happened to the toddler, and whether or not the mother was involved.
[BREAKING] Judge Nathan Erasmus finds Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/opGqXJBokS
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 2, 2025
Mere hours after Kelly Smith and co were convicted, Kelly Smith’s home, the same one Joshlin was raised in, was set alight by angry community members who had been keeping up with the case. According to Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, the SAPS have opened a case of arson, and have taken an adult female into custody in connection with the case.
“We can confirm that Saldanha SAPS registered an Arson case for investigation after Kelly Smith’s Middelpos dwelling was destroyed by a fire. An adult female had been taken in for questioning,” the enforcement officer says.
Despite the guilty verdict, some members of the public, including Kelly’s own mother as well as prominent political figure Mbuyise Ndlozi, have expressed that they believe that the job is not done, as Kelly still has to reveal who or where she sold her daughter to, in order to really put the matter to rest.
READ NOW: ‘I WANT JOSHLIN BACK’
KELLY Smith’s mother has called on her daughter to reveal what happened to missing Joshlin. https://t.co/d0C0LuC0fE#Dailyvoice #Independentmedia
— Daily Voice (@DailyVoiceSA) May 5, 2025
We all should welcome the verdict… but where is Joshlin, uphi umtwana ? ?
Please help with all the information to catch those who took her and bring them to justice as well, least they take another Joshlin Smith. ?
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) May 2, 2025
Kelly Smith GUILTY of trafficking her child for the purposes of exploitation. Do one good thing with your life and tell us: WHERE IS JOSHLIN?? pic.twitter.com/qLqwQdJmmz
— HOLLY REY (@Hollyreymusic) May 2, 2025
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