Western Cape police recognised for excellence in crime investigation

The Provincial Organised Crime: Anti-Kidnapping Investigation Unit, which handled the Joshlin Smith case and successfully recovered baby Imaad Sharmar, along with the Khayelitsha Community Policing Forum (CPF), received awards at the Western Cape 2024/2025 Excellence Awards for the Provincial Police.

The ceremony was held on Saturday, January 17, in Century City.

Keynote speaker, Provincial Police Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, vowed to catch those responsible for the mass shooting in Marikana in Philippi East on Saturday, which claimed the lives of eight people.

Patekile said that despite 38,000 illegal guns being removed from the streets in the last five years, mass shootings and murders continued, but he thanked the men and women in blue for their dedication.

“We are celebrating the hard effort, dedication, and commitment our members have shown in the past five years,” he stated.

“We want to say to the members today, thank you so much; we see you, your work is not unnoticed.

“Despite the fact that we have been in this province for the last five years, and doing what we are doing, despite the fact that we have confiscated more than 38,000 illegal firearms, this has unfortunately not translated into fewer shootings and murders.

“But with the 38,000 illegal firearms taken off the streets, we will continue doing so with the members we are awarding today because they are the winners… despite this morning, as we are celebrating these successes, we wake up to another mass shooting.

“We shall not be discouraged; with that, we will have to find those responsible. We are going to find them; we know now who we are looking for.

“We want to say thank you to everyone, starting with the person who cleans the office, streets, and buildings to the top sixth floor where decisions are made.”

The award for Detective Group of the Year went to the Provincial Organised Crime: Anti-Kidnapping Investigation Unit (PO OCI Kidnappings), who led the investigation of the kidnapping of Joshlin Smith of Saldanha.

The lead detective, Captain Wesley Lombard, captured the nation's attention when he was a key witness in the trial against the child’s mother and two other accused.

On May 29, 2025, Joshlin's mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen ‘Boeta’ Appollis, and Steveno van Rhyn received sentences of life imprisonment plus 10 years for charges of trafficking in persons and kidnapping, a victory for the unit.

Joshlin was reported missing on February 19, 2024, and is believed to have been sold for R20,000.

The team was also at the forefront of the kidnapping case of baby Mogamad Imaad Sharmar, who was abducted from his mother in June last year at Middestad Mall in Bellville. The suspect, Sameemah Jacobs of Tafelsig, was arrested and charged after the infant was found in her care.

The CPF of the Year went to Khayelitsha (Site B) CPF - Phindile George, who said that the ordinary volunteer made the streets safer.

"Volunteers are protected only by a mere reflector jacket and the hope of making our communities safe. When you speak in our support, it simply means we are not alone, but you have our backs as the communities of Cape Town and the Western Cape,” he said.

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