Ramaphosa says he appreciates confidence of JSC, parties in Maya’s Chief Justice appointment
Born in Eastern Cape, Maya will become the country's first woman to head the highest judicial office in the country.
Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya during an interview for the position of chief justice on 21 May 2024. Picture: @OCJ_RSA/X
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa says he appreciates the confidence of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and political parties in the appointment of new Chief Justice Mandisa Maya.
Born in the Eastern Cape, Maya will become the country's first woman to head the highest judicial office in the country.
Her official appointment was announced by the Presidency on Thursday night.
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She will succeed incumbent Raymond Zondo, who is set to retire at the end of August.
Born in 1964 in the town of Tsolo, Maya holds a range of degrees from the then-University of Transkei, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Duke University in the United States.
She has worked as a court interpreter, a prosecutor, a law advisor, a lecturer, an advocate and was appointed as a judge of the High Court in Mthatha in 2000.
She was the first black woman judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), which she went on to lead as its president from 2017 until 2022 when she was appointed Deputy Chief Justice.
In her unsuccessful interview for the Chief Justice position in 2022, Maya responded to questions about her being a woman, saying she was not there because of her gender but because she was a worthy judge.
Her new appointment has been welcomed by, among others, judicial watchdog group Judges Matter.
“We look forward to working with Justice Maya as she undertakes this huge responsibility, but we also will hold her accountable in executing the functions of Chief Justice,” said the organisation's Mbekezeli Benjamin.
Maya’s appointment takes effect from 1 September 2024.