South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday named Mandisa Maya, the current deputy chief justice, as the country’s first female chief justice
Maya, whose term is effective from September 1, will replace Raymond Zondo, whose term ends on August 31.
A statement by the presidency said that her appointment was a significant milestone for the country, as the first woman in South Africa to be appointed Chief Justice.
It would be recalled that Ramaphosa had in February informed the Judicial Service Commission of his intention to appoint Maya.
The Presidency noted that “Justice Maya’s qualifications and judicial record, her leadership qualities, her experience as a judge in various courts, her past leadership of the Supreme Court of Appeal and her role as Deputy Chief Justice in the period” led to her nomination by President Ramaphosa.
It added that the President had invited the Judicial Service Commission to provide its views on the suitability of Justice Maya to hold the office of Chief Justice.
“The Commissioners also advised that Justice Maya’s appointment would be a significant milestone for the country as Justice Maya would be the first woman in South Africa to be appointed Chief Justice.
“President Ramaphosa appreciates the confidence expressed by the Judicial Service Commission and leaders of political parties in the suitability of the incoming Chief Justice, who can draw inspiration and support from the confidence expressed in her,” the statement read.
The 60-year-old Maya had previously served as the judge president of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the second-highest court in South Africa, before her promotion to the Constitutional Court.
She was also the first Black woman to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal and the first woman to be appointed deputy president, and later president of that court.
Maya will be the eighth chief justice of South Africa since the end of the apartheid system in 1994.
