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She was just six years old when she disappeared without a trace. What investigators uncovered over the next year stunned an entire country and still left questions unanswered. Welcome to Love and Heartbreak to Homicide. We are Kai’s AI co hosts, bringing you the cases that she writes every Wednesday and Friday. I hi, I’m AI Gein, joined by Jensen and Jessica, who read some of the quotes, take a listen all the way to the end and if you like our retelling then please subscribe. You can also subscribe on our Patreon patreon.com loveandmurder for free or using one of our bonus tiers so you don’t miss a case. With our bonus tiers, not only do you support us in our goal of being the voices of the victims, but you also get bonus cases.

Six year old Jocelyn Smith went missing on February 19, 2024

Patreon.com Love and Murder now let’s get into your Midweek Mini On February 19, 2024, in the quiet fishing town of Saldanha Bay, located 85 miles north of Cape Town, South Africa, six year old Jocelyn Smith went missing from her home. At 9pm Raquel Smith, known as Kelly, called the police to report her daughter missing. She said she had been out searching all evening. Thirty minutes later, officers arrived and began the search. Kelly told police Jocelyn had stayed home that day because she didn’t have clean school clothes. She said she left her daughter in the care of her boyfriend, Jacques Napolis, while she ran errands. By the next day, the search exploded into a national mission. Police brought in K9s, helicopters, rescue boats, even drones. Teams from 151 police stations came to help. Interpol got involved, satellite mapping online, researchers, forensic bone experts, all combing through dunes and drains in the Middlepos settlement. They even followed a tip that Jocelyn had been smuggled onto a cargo ship. The ship was heading to Port Talbot, Wales on April 16, 2024, but Interpol, with the help of the UK’s National Crime Agency, stopped and searched it for two days. They found 21 Philippine nationals on board, but there was no trace of Jocelyn. There were some setbacks in the search efforts. For instance, police realised that there were no cameras watching the streets where Kelly lived, so there was no footage of what could have possibly happened. Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembesile Patekile vowed.

Police will not rest until we find out what happened to Jocelyn.

Jocelyn’s picture circulated social media and someone even offered a, uh, 1 million rand reward, approximately $54,000 for her safe return. One child protection advocate said, I have.

Never really seen a case blow up like this in South Africa before. Neither have we seen such a big search for a missing child.

On March 4, investigators found clothes stained with blood in an open field in Diersville. But no Jocelyn. In the meantime, police started interviewing friends and family, hoping to get some insight into what could have happened to huh, her. Born in October 2017, Jocelyn was a first grader described as having striking green eyes and brown pigtails. Her teacher, Edna Mart, said she was a quiet and very tidy student. She lived in a small shack in Middleposs with her mother, her mother’s boyfriend, an older brother and a baby half sister. A social worker had reported that the shack, quote, offered little in the way of privacy. Both Jocelyn and her brother were reportedly neglected. Kelly Smith, then 35, had three kids and a history of addiction and violence. Her mother had given her up as a baby to be raised by grandparents hoping to give her a better life. By 15, Kelly started using drugs. As time passed, her drug use worsened. She got violent with her mother and with her children. She once threatened to stab her son. After Jocelyn was born, it took her five months to register her birthday. In South Africa, you’re legally required to register a birth within 30 days. Her grandmother kicked her out, hoping this would give her incentive to get clean and be a better mother. Instead, she bounced in and out of shelters for abused women. Kelly did odd jobs to make money. One employer, Kelly Ziegers, paid her in groceries to make sure the kids had food. Natasha Andrews, a family friend, told police she tried to ADopt Jocelyn in 2018 when Kelly went to rehab, but Kelly refused. Despite this, Jocelyn would often spend weekends and holidays with the Andrews family. In August 2023, six months before Jocelyn disappeared, a uh, local pastor said Kelly had been talking about selling her children. He said that she asked for 20,000 rand, around $1,100 per child. But she said that she would take as little as 5,000 random $275 if buyers thought her price was too high. As investigators dug deeper, uh, into Jocelyn’s disappearance, Kelly’s reactions started raising serious red flags.

One officer said, it just didn’t sit right. She wasn’t acting like a mother whose child was missing. Instead of showing panic or heartbreak, she had a lack of empathy and care.

On March 6, 2024, Kelly gave police a handwritten statement. She said that on the day Jocelyn disappeared, she Woke up at 7am Fed Jocelyn and her brother and told them they weren’t going to school. She dropped off her youngest at daycare around 8:15 and headed to work. At Kelly Zieger’s house. Kelly admitted she borrowed 50 rand, which is $2.78, around 11:30am to buy meth from a dealer named Gums. She smoked it with Jacquen, then supposedly went back to work by 12.10pm she claimed she returned to work at 4.45pm after picking up her daughter and getting gas. She got home and asked Jaquen where the kids were. He said that her son was with, quote, brother Lou and that Jocelyn was around somewhere. By 5pm she was calling for Jocelyn. And then at 5:15pm she smoked more meth with Jaqen and a guy named Steveno Van Ryn. Now, Kelly’s timeline made no sense. The main reason is because Kelly Ziegers told a very different story. She said that Kelly never even showed up for work that day. And CCTV footage backed her up account. Two weeks after Jocelyn disappeared, Kelly, Jacann and Steveno uh were arrested on March 7, 2024. They were charged with kidnapping and human trafficking. Their trial began on March 3, 2025, held at the White City Multipurpose center so the community could attend. All three claimed they were innocent. The prosecution team, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Zelda Swanepoel, said that the prosecution’s case relied heavily on witness testimonies. In fact, they called over 30 witnesses to testify. They argued that the accused sold, delivered or exchanged Jocelyn for money, specifically for exploitation, namely slavery or practices similar to slavery. The state alleged she was sold to a sangoma for 20,000 random. They told the court about everything they uncovered during the search and brought forward new evidence. On the day she vanished, Kelly and Jocelyn were seen getting into a white car. That was the last time anyone saw her. Laurentia Lombard, Kelly’s neighbor and friend, testified for the prosecution. She said that Kelly had confided in her about, quote, doing something silly. She said that she sold Jocelyn to a traditional healer of the Zulu people known as a Sangoma. The Sangoma, quote, wanted her for her eyes and skin. Then Laurentia said that Kelly and Steveno, uh, offered her money to keep her mouth shut about this.

Do you know another way to get people to keep their mouths shut about your illegal activities? By not doing illegal activities in the first place.

When Laurentia told Kelly that she could have just asked for help and then she asked Kelly why she did that to her daughter, Kelly said, quote, it is already like that. Nothing I can do about that. Then Jocelyn’s teacher testified that during the search, Kelly confessed to huh her that.

Jocelyn was already on a ship inside A container and they were on the way to West Africa.

Another witness, social media influencer, uh, Shakira Syed, testified that after Jocelyn’s disappearance she’d heard Kelly say, quote, I never knew Jocelyn would make me famous. The defense argued that there was no evidence that Jocelyn was harmed. Other than this argument, the defense remained primarily quiet. All three defendants remained silent. The defence also didn’t call any witnesses. All three of them also never showed any remorse throughout the trial. So following an eight week trial on May 2, 2025, Judge Nathan Erasmus read the verdict. Kelly, Jaquen and Steveno were all found guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking. On May 28, 2025 and continuing into May 29, 2025, victim impact statements were read. Jocelyn’s grandmother Amanda Smith Daniels said, do.

Kelly Smith is accused of being mastermind behind trafficking of her own daughter

You know what it is to lie awake every night and what it feels like? My heart is ripped out of my body.

Jocelyn’s father Jose MK was so overcome with emotion that he had to be carried out of the courtroom. A video clip of Jocelyn laughing was shown which caused many to cry uncontrollably, including Kelly. Social worker Errol Peterson described Kelly as.

Someone who told bald faced lies and made up stories about childhood sexual abuse. Kelly’s own mother and aunt described her as manipulative. It is therefore not a stretch to conclude that Kelly Smith is the mastermind behind the trafficking of her own daughter. I recommended that the court impose the maximum possible sentence.

Finally, it was time for the judge to deliver their sentences. All three of them received life in prison. They were also sentenced to a concurrent 10 years for kidnapping.

Judge Erasmus said there were no mitigating factors in their favor and I’ve found no indication of remorse from the accused. Also, under no circumstances is your drug use an excuse for your action. I also order that the names of all three convicted individuals be entered into the National Child Protection Register.

The court’s decision was met with loud applause and cheers. Minister of justice and Constitutional Development Mamamoloko Kubayi agreed with the life sentences and.

Said this ruling brings a measure of justice. It sends a strong and clear message that those who violate the innocence and trust of our children will face the full consequences of the law. Also, this sentencing is significant. As it happened during National Child Protection Week. It reinforces the moral duty to protect children.

Now, it’s interesting to note that this case came out during a recent and troubling national trend. Kidnappings have soared in South Africa with more than 17,000 cases recorded in the 12 months leading to March 2024. And although justice, according to The South Africa court was served. Jocelyn has still not been found. Her, uh, grandmother said, I don’t feel.

That any sentence they get will bring my grandchild back.

Brian: Kelly Smith declined to send her kids to loving families

And with that heartbreaking quote, that’s the conclusion of the case of Kelly Smith. What do you think of this case? Let Kai know your thoughts below.

I’ll tell you my thoughts right now. I think Kelly is a sick, unhinged person. Drugs and money to buy drugs take precedence over the life of her child. And I know some people may say that it’s a disease and not her fault, but I don’t think that’s an excuse. In this case, she was offered the opportunity to send her kids to loving families, but she declined. Instead, she saw them as walking bags of money to sell and support her drug habit. But I don’t want to hear any rebuttals. Did you hear what that person wanted with this 6 year old? I’m disgusted with everyone involved.

I hear you, Brian, and I agree with you.

I agree too. And what do you think, lambs? Do you agree with Brian? Leave your comments below. That’s all we have for you today. Such a sad, heartbreaking case. If you suspect child abuse and are, uh, in South Africa, you can call the Childline helpline at AH, 0800-05-5555. You can also call the Childline helpline at 1-16. The helpline is available 24. 7. If you’re in the US call the Child Help National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-ACH. That’s 1-800-422-4453 or go to www.childhelp.org. all calls are toll free and confidential. The hotline is available 24. 7 in more than 170 languages.

And, um, that’s all we have for you. Thanks for listening. Help us be a voice of the victims by sharing this episode and we’ll see you in the next case.