Joshlin Smith sentencing: Kelly Smith, Jacquen and Steveno get life imprisonment

Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the trafficking and kidnapping of Joshlin Smith.

In a courtroom packed with emotion and tension, Judge delivered a life sentence each to Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis, and their associate Steveno van Rhyn for their roles in the trafficking and kidnapping of six-year-old Joshlin Smith.

Joshlin Smith sentencing: Mother, boyfriend and devious Steveno get life imprisonment

The sentencing marks the conclusion of a harrowing trial that has gripped the Diazville and Saldanha Bay communities since Joshlin’s disappearance.

All three were convicted on two charges: human trafficking and kidnapping.

For trafficking Joshlin, each received a sentence of life imprisonment.

On the kidnapping charge, they were given an additional 10 years.

Judge ruled that there was no need to distinguish between their roles, stating:

“There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming and deserving of a lesser sentence than the harshest I can impose.”

All three will be entered into the National Child Protection Register – What it means

Alongside their sentences, the court ordered that Kelly, Jacquen and Steveno be entered into the National Child Protection Register. This register is an official list of individuals found unsuitable to work with children.

Once listed, a person is legally banned from working in any environment that places them in contact with minors.

This step is meant to prevent further harm to vulnerable children and is a safeguard to protect others from known offenders.

Judge also expressed frustration that proper systems under the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons (PACO TIP) Act had not been fully implemented, urging authorities to ensure proper compliance.

When will they be eligible for parole?

Under South African law, life imprisonment does not necessarily mean a person will never leave prison. However, parole eligibility is highly restricted for those convicted of serious crimes like trafficking and crimes against children.

Typically, a person serving life for such offences becomes eligible to apply for parole after serving at least 25 years, but parole is not guaranteed.

The court did not specify any adjustments to parole timelines, meaning all three must serve decades before they can be considered for release — and only then under strict review.

During sentencing, the judge acknowledged the intense public interest and the emotional toll on the community. He described the case as one of the most difficult in his career, not only legally but emotionally, saying:

“This is the most difficult part of a criminal case because I am duty bound as a judicial officer but as a human being to pass judgement on other human beings.”

Despite the defendants’ young age and drug use, the judge found no mitigating factors to lessen their punishment.

He particularly noted their lack of remorse, their manipulation of facts, and the betrayal of trust they committed against Joshlin, who was both their family and a child of the community.

With the sentence delivered, the Diazville community and Joshlin’s loved ones now begin the long process of healing, while the search for her remains continues.