Brigadier Attie Lamprecht wins award for protecting whistleblowers and exposing crime

Senior police officer Brigadier Adriaan Jacobus "Attie" Lamprecht has been honored with the Whistleblower Sherpa Support Award at Public Interest South Africa’s 2026 Whistleblower Awards. Lamprecht, who has served in the South African Police Service (SAPS) for 42 years, was recognized for his work protecting informants and strengthening anonymous crime reporting.

The awards ceremony, held on Monday under the theme "Honouring Courage. Inspiring Integrity", recognized individuals from various sectors for their courage, integrity and contributions to South Africa. Lamprecht, who oversees several national sections including Crime Stop, Harmful and Occult Crimes, and the Bureau for Missing Persons, has played a pivotal role in the internationally recognized Crime Stop Call Centre, which allows members of the public to anonymously report information about criminal activities.

Since its establishment 34 years ago, Crime Stop has maintained a record of protecting the identities of informants, contributing to thousands of arrests and the seizure of illicit goods and other criminal assets worth hundreds of millions of rands. Lamprecht also serves as a director of Crime Stoppers International, a global organization dedicated to strengthening anonymous crime reporting systems and supporting crime prevention initiatives.

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