President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced Judge Mandisa Maya as the new Chief Justice. The announcement was made yesterday through statement released by the office of the presidency. She is the country’s first female Chief Justice. The presidency said in a statement that Ramaphosa consulted with the Judicial Service Commission and the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly.
She will resume her position on September 1 as part of the statement reads, “The African National Congress welcomes the President’s appointment of Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa effective, 1 September 2024.” She is replacing Chief Justice Raymond Zondo whose term ends on August 31.
She was appointed Deputy Chief Justice in September 2023 after being interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission. She wrote the first recorded Supreme Court of Appeal judgement in isiXhosa on the dispute about the language policy of the University of South Africa.
She has also delivered over 200 reported judgements. The statement indicated how her qualifications, judicial record m, leadership qualities and experience make her well suited to lead the judiciary in South Africa.
