PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Mandisa Maya as Chief Justice of South Africa on Thursday, making her the first woman to hold this prestigious position. Maya, 60, will succeed Raymond Zondo, whose term as a Constitutional Court judge ends in August.
This appointment marks a ‘significant milestone’ for South Africa, as Justice Maya is the first female to be appointed Chief Justice, the presidency announced in a statement. Ramaphosa’s decision followed consultations with the Judicial Service Commission and political parties, after Maya’s nomination in February.
Justice Maya previously missed out on the top job in 2022 when the Judicial Service Commission recommended her, but Ramaphosa appointed Zondo instead. Currently serving as Zondo’s deputy, Maya is a married mother of three and one of four women among the top court’s 10 permanent judges.
South Africa, known for its progressive constitution, boasts high female participation in public life. Over 40 percent of lawmakers, including the National Assembly speaker and her deputy, are women.
