President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the first step toward appointing Judge Mandisa Muriel Lindelwa Maya as South Africa’s first woman Chief Justice.
Ramaphosa announced he is consulting with leaders of political parties represented in Parliament and the Judicial Service Commission regarding his nomination of Deputy Chief Justice Maya for the top judicial post.
“President Ramaphosa has invited the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly to make submissions on the suitability or otherwise of Deputy Chief Justice Maya to hold the office of Chief Justice,” said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Tuesday.
Judge Maya currently serves in the #2 spot as Deputy Chief Justice, a position she was appointed to in July 2022. The Chief Justice role will soon be vacant when current Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s term ends on August 31, 2024.
Zondo was appointed as a Constitutional Court Justice for a 12-year term starting September 1, 2012. He was then named Chief Justice in March 2022, a move that was controversial as the Judicial Service Commission had put forth Judge Maya as their nominee.
If appointed, Maya would be the first woman to hold the esteemed position of Chief Justice in South Africa’s history.
