By Mpumzi Mshweshwe:
Racquel Chantel Smith, the mother of 6-year-old Joshlin Smith, was convicted alongside her co-accused at the High Court in the Western Cape today, 2 May. The accused will be sentenced next Friday and will remain in custody until then. The ruling has been welcomed by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the public, however, Joshlin is still missing, or her remains have still not been found.
Joshlin was abducted last year and sold for slavery following an agreement by the accused – Racquel Smith, Rowhan Appollis, and Stevano Dumaizio van Rhyn. The NPA team was led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape, Advocate Zelda Swanepoel, who was assisted by Senior State Advocate, Aradhana Heeramun.
“The two seasoned prosecutors argued that this is a test case of utmost jurisprudential importance; as the case is the first prosecution where the victim, in this case a child, has been sold and has still not been found,” said Eric Ntabazalila, the NPA spokesperson.
The accused were offered money for the kidnapping and selling off of Joshlin, with Van Rhyn promised a sum of R1,200 and Lombaard was to receive R1,000, and the rest of the money was to be shared between Appollis and Smith.
The judge, who presided over the case, Judge Nathan Erasmus, was satisfied by the State’s arguments and ruled that the State proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt against all the accused.
Former EFF Member of Parliament, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, tweeted his response to the ruling saying “we all should welcome the verdict, but where is Joshlin uphi umntwana (where is the child)”. Another X user, Holly Rey, echoed Ndlozi, tweeting “do one good thing with your life and tell us: where is Joshlin,” referring to Racquel Smith. – @NewsSA_Online
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