Life Sentence for Mother Who Sold Kidnapped Daughter for $1100

South African Mother Sentenced to Life for Kidnapping and Trafficking Daughter A South African mother, Kelly Smith, has been sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and trafficking of her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith. The child vanished in February 2024, and a witness testified that she was sold to a traditional healer for $1,100. The case, which unfolded in Saldanha Bay, South Africa, has shocked the nation and garnered international attention. Smith's boyfriend and a friend were also convicted and received life sentences for their involvement. "There's nothing that I can find that is redeeming and deserving of a lesser sentence than the harshest I can impose," said Presiding Judge Nathan Erasmus during the sentencing. The judge's statement underscores the severity of the crime and the lack of mitigating circumstances. The disappearance of Joshlin Smith has left the community heartbroken. Outside the court, protestors chanted "Where is Joshlin?" and held banners expressing their outrage and demanding answers. Police have confirmed that the search for the missing child continues day and night. While the convictions bring a sense of justice to those who followed the case, the ongoing search for Joshlin serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of human trafficking. The hope remains that Joshlin will be found safe.