President Ramaphosa Nominates New Chief Justice and Deputy President of Supreme Court of Appeal

President Cyril Ramaphosa has put forward Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya as the nominee for the next Chief Justice, with Raymond Zondo’s term finishing on August 31. Seeking feedback, the President has engaged with political party leaders in Parliament regarding Maya’s suitability for the role.

Highlighting Maya’s illustrious career, Ramaphosa emphasized her educational background, spanning degrees from various prestigious institutions such as the University of Transkei, University of Natal, and Duke University in the US, along with honorary LLD degrees from prominent South African universities.

Commencing her judicial journey in 2000 as a judge at the Eastern Cape High Court, Maya has ascended to prominent positions including Deputy and President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Simultaneously, President Ramaphosa proposed Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Dumisani Hamilton Zondi for the position of Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, as the term of Justice Xola Petse reaches its conclusion on July 10 upon turning 70.

Justice Zondi’s credentials include academic accolades from the University of Fort Hare, University of Natal, and Georgetown University in the US. His professional trajectory includes a tenure on the Western Cape Bench starting in 2007, subsequent appointment as a Judge of the Competition Appeal Court in 2011, and elevation to the Supreme Court of Appeal in June 2014. Noteworthy is Zondi’s appointment as Chairperson of the Electoral Court in 2022.

Ramaphosa awaits the Judicial Service Commission‘s input on Zondi’s suitability for the Deputy President position at the Supreme Court of Appeal.