The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has extended congratulations to Brigadier Adriaan Jacobus “Attie” Lamprecht, who received the prestigious Whistleblower Sherpa Support Award at Public Interest South Africa’s 2026 Whistleblower Awards.
The awards ceremony, held under the theme: “Honouring Courage. Inspiring Integrity”, recognised Lamprecht alongside other nominees, who have demonstrated exceptional courage, integrity and significant contributions to South Africa.
With an impressive 42 years of dedicated service in the SAPS, Lamprecht currently oversees key national units, including Crime Stop, Harmful and Occult Crimes, and the Bureau for Missing Persons, which he established in 1994.
For over three decades, he has also led the internationally celebrated Crime Stop Call Centre (08600 10111), a platform enabling the public to anonymously report criminal activities.
“South Africa’s Crime Stop Call Centre is widely acknowledged by Crime Stoppers International for its excellence in protecting informants' anonymity. Since its inception 34 years ago, the programme has played a crucial role in thousands of arrests and the seizure of illicit goods and cash valued in the hundreds of millions of rands,” the police said in a statement.
In addition to his role in SAPS, Lamprecht serves as a director of Crime Stoppers International, a global organisation focused on enhancing anonymous crime reporting and crime prevention efforts worldwide.
Lamprecht, who holds a PhD in Sociology, also managed the Witness Protection Programme during its administration by SAPS, underscoring his long-term dedication to safeguarding those who support law enforcement in battling crime.
Masemola expressed his pride and admiration for Lamprecht’s tireless service.
“Brigadier Lamprecht’s award is a testament to his unwavering commitment to protecting those who come forward with information to help fight crime.
“His work demonstrates the importance of safeguarding the identities of informants and ensuring that members of the public can contribute to the fight against crime without fear. SAPS congratulates him on this well-deserved honour,” Masemola said.
The Whistleblower Sherpa Support Award celebrates individuals who courageously stand up for integrity and justice, strengthening South Africa’s commitment to transparency and public safety. – SAnews.gov.za
