GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — Advocate Catherine Breytenbach, daughter of Ben and Wendy Putter of Graaff-Reinet, together with two of her colleagues from the National Prosecuting Authority, have been named winners of the International Association of Prosecutors’ Award, "Prosecutor of the Year 2016”, to be presented next month in Dublin.
The award is for the case: the State vs George “Geweld” Thomas, the biggest gang conviction in South African history. Breytenbach worked on this matter for seven years, three years of which were spent in the Cape High Court for the trial, judgment and sentencing.
The IAP has given this prestigious award to this prosecution team for “great sacrifice and with the risk for (their) personal lives” while successfully obtaining the conviction of the “28” prison gang leader, “Geweld”, as well as 16 of his gang members – many to multiple life sentences. The Executive Committee of the IAP also felt that an important consequence of this sentencing is the public confidence it gave that the criminal justice system can successfully address the issue of gangsterism.
Breytenbach spent 12 years at Union High School, matriculating in 1998 with an A aggregate and as deputy head girl. She studied law at the University of Stellenbosch, was admitted as a state advocate in 2004 and has ever since held a position at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions , Western Cape, in the Organised Crime Component.
'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'
