Court sentence Joshlin Smith mother to life in prison for kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter

One South African woman wey dey guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter don dey sentenced to life in prison, along wit her two accomplices.

Di jail terms for Racquel "Kelly" Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and dia friend Steveno van Rhyn come more dan one year afta Joshlin Smith mysteriously disappear outside her home for Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town.

Even wit di highly publicised search for di girl, wey vanish for February 2024, dem neva still see

Di sentencing dey come afta one six-week trial wey captivate South Africa, as witnesses and prosecutors make a number of shocking allegations.

Judge Nathan Erasmus say im "no draw distinction" among di three as e hand down di sentences.

"On di human trafficking charge, you dey sentenced to life imprisonment. On di kidnapping charge, you dey sentenced to 10 years imprisonment," e declare, as pipo for di courtroom clap dia hands.

Wetin happun for court during di sentencing

Judge Erasmus bin use ova one hour to deliver di sentence. E give brief summary of di case and highlight points wey stand out throughout.

E scold di three accused, especially Oga van Rhyn and Ms Smith, for dia conduct throughout di proceedings, e say dem no show any remorse for dia actions.

"Nothing I see wey dey redeeming or deserving of a lesser sentence," e tok.

E also tok of di impact dia conduct don get for di community of Middelpos, wia di girl bin dey live, e say di mata don leave di residents "fractured".

35-year-old Smith, and her accomplices no show any emotion as di judge read out dia sentences for di community centre for Saldanha wia dem do dia trial to allow residents attend di proceedings.

Police tok say dem go continue dey find di little girl, even beyond South Africa borders.

"We no go rest until we find [out] wetin happun to Joshlin. We go continue to find her both day and night," Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile tell local media.

Emotions bin dey high ahead of di sentencing, as community members bin dey para say dem want make di three of dem get "harsh sentence bicos dem deserve am".

Bifor di sentencing, Joshlin grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, bin again beg her daughter say, "bring my [grand]child back or tell me wia she dey".

"I no feel say any sentence go bring my grandchild back," she tell local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.

Ms Smith-Daniels say Joshlin disappearance don leave her family "broken".

She beg her daughter say make she stop to dey blame odas for her misfortune as she "be di cause of her problems".

During di trial, di court hear testimonies from more dan 30 witnesses, wey paint foto of di young girl troubled life and subsequent disappearance.

Kelly Smith and her accomplices no gree testify for court and dem no call any witnesses in dia defence.

Di most explosive na wen Lourentia Lombaard, wey be friend and neighbour of Smith turn to state witness.

Ms Lombaard allege say Ms Smith tell her say she don do "something silly" and she sell Joshlin give one traditional healer, wey dey known for South Africa as "sangoma".

Di "pesin wey [allegedly take] Joshlin want her for her eyes and skin", Ms Lombaard tell di court.

One local pastor bin testify for 2023, say she hear wen Ms Smith – mama of three children – dey tok of selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100; £850) each, though she bin say she dey willing to accept a lower figure of $275.

Joshlin teacher also allege for court say Ms Smith bin tell her wen dem dey look for her daughter say she already dey "on a ship, inside one container, and dem dey on dia way to West Africa".

Na di testimonies of Ms Lombard and di clergyman be di key to securing a conviction.

During sentencing hearings, dem describe Smith as manipulative and pesin wey dey tell "bald-faced lies". One social worker wey dem appoint to compile report on Ms Smith and her accomplices, tok say "e no dey too much, if dem conclude say [Kelly] Smith na di mastermind behind di trafficking of her own daughter".

Di court also hear powerful statements from pipo wey sabi Joshlin about di devastating effect of her disappearance on di community.