Central SA
Bloemfontein judge appointed as first female Deputy Chief Justice─── LUCKY NKUYANE 11:01 Mon, 25 Jul 2022
The Judge President of the Bloemfontein-based Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in the Free State, Justice Mandisa Maya, has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Justice in the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
This is the second-highest judicial post in the country after the Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo.
According to the presidency, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Maya to deputise Justice Zondo with effect from 1 September 2022. Her appointment comes after serious criticism levelled against president Ramaphosa after he ignored and overlooked a recommendation by panellists of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which then recommended that Justice Maya should replace former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
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President Ramaphosa says he made this appointment in accordance with the Constitution and adds that Justice Maya has more than two decades of experience after a distinguished career as a judicial officer.
Apart from Justice Maya being the first woman to hold the position of the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, this appointment also makes her the first woman to be appointed as the Deputy Chief Justice in the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
“Justice Maya will contribute to the ongoing transformation process of the judiciary. Her ascendency to the apex court will serve as a beacon of hope for scores of young women and make them believe that South Africa is a country of possibilities, regardless of gender, social or economic circumstances,” Ramaphosa adds.
