ZIMSPHERE
JOHANNESBURG – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday announced the appointment of Mandisa Maya as the country's first woman Chief Justice, effective September 1.
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| Mandisa Maya |
This historic appointment follows consultations with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Maya, who will succeed current Chief Justice Raymond Zondo whose term concludes on August 1, has previously held the position of President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Her appointment signifies an important milestone in South Africa's judiciary.
In February, President Ramaphosa informed the JSC of his intention to appoint Maya.
The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development welcomed the decision, lauding Maya as a "brilliant legal mind and a trailblazer".
"Today we have a female Chief Justice. This appointment signifies the deeper appreciation of how far we have come as a nation and how much our courts have transformed, both in terms of race and gender," said Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Simelane.
"It signifies the transformation agenda of what was previously a male-dominated judiciary.
"Justice Maya brings with her profound experience and legal brilliance spanning many decades in the legal profession."
In 2022, the JSC recommended that Ramaphosa appoint Maya as the new Chief Justice.
However, the President exercised his legal prerogative to appoint a different candidate, Zondo.
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