Captain Wesley Lombard and His Team Receive the Western Cape’s Top Detective Award

Captain Wesley Lombard and his team walked away with the title of best detective unit in the Western Cape at an awards ceremony held on 17 January at Century City Convention Centre.

The recognition is largely tied to their work on the Joshlin Smith case, which became one of the most closely watched investigations in recent memory. The six-year-old disappeared from Middelpos in Saldanha on 19 February 2024, and what unfolded over the months that followed kept communities on the West Coast and people around the world glued to every development.

The case stirred anger, grief and deep concern, especially among parents who saw their own children in Joshlin’s face.

Captain Lombard led the investigation with the Provincial Organised Crime: Anti-Kidnapping Investigation Unit, and testified as a state witness in court. Kelly Smith, Joshlin’s mother, Steveno van Rhyn, and Boeta Appolis were sentenced on 29 May 2025. Each received a life sentence for human trafficking and ten years for kidnapping.

His team faced another high-stakes case soon afterwards. Nine-day-old Mogamat Imaad Shamar was abducted from his mother at Middestad Mall in Bellville on 28 June. The team recovered the baby unharmed.

Across both cases, praise flowed from community members, local organisations and civil society groups. Many have spoken of Captain Lombard’s composed manner during moments of intense pressure, his focus on justice and the respect shown to victims and families. That reputation has earned him trust beyond the South African Police Service, particularly among communities who often feel overlooked.

Captain Lombard’s policing career began in 2003 after completing basic training. His first posting took him to Mitchells Plain SAPS, where he soon moved into detective work, focusing on serious and violent crimes. By 2013, he joined the Provincial Detectives unit to investigate organised crime. He later served as Section Head at McGregor and De Doorns SAPS before returning to the Provincial Organised Crime Unit in 2022. Today, he leads an experienced investigation team within that unit.

His background includes extensive specialised training. Over the years, he has completed programmes in Organised Crime Investigation, Psychologically Motivated Crimes, Drug and Fraud Investigations, Anti-Kidnapping, Cyber Psychology and Anti-Corruption Practices.

The award at the Western Cape Police Awards reflects years of work protecting vulnerable people and pursuing answers when families need them most.

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