President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed on Thursday his decision to appoint Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya as the next Chief Justice of South Africa.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa, in accordance with section 174(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, has appointed current Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya as Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, effective 1 September 2024,” announced his office.
As Chief Justice Raymond Zondo retires at the end of August, Maya will become the first woman to lead the South African judiciary.
Ramaphosa emphasized the historical importance of her appointment in his statement.
He mentioned that after interviewing Maya in May, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had confirmed her suitability for the role, noting her judicial record, leadership abilities, extensive experience as a judge in various courts, previous leadership of the Supreme Court of Appeal, and her tenure as Deputy Chief Justice.
“The commissioners also highlighted that Justice Maya’s appointment would be a significant milestone for the country, as she would be the first woman in South Africa to be named Chief Justice,” he said.
He added that Maya “can draw strength and support from the confidence placed in her.”
Ramaphosa nominated Maya for the position, unlike Zondo, who was among the four candidates shortlisted by a panel appointed by the president to aid in the selection process.
This departure from traditional procedures led to some controversy, as the JSC chose Maya for the role without evaluating the merits of all candidates.
Ramaphosa argued that the JSC had exceeded its mandate. He appointed Zondo instead of adhering to the commission’s recommendation but then promptly nominated Maya as his deputy.
Maya served as president of the Supreme Court of Appeal from 2017 until her appointment as Deputy Chief Justice in July 2022, becoming the first woman to hold that role.
During her interview with the JSC, Maya advocated for increasing the number of judges in the Constitutional Court from 11 to 15 and proposed constitutional amendments to enable panels to review applications to the court, aiming to improve its efficiency.