South African Judge Mandisa Maya has been appointed as the country’s chief justice by President Cyril Ramaphosa. This appointment marks a historic milestone, as she will become the first female to hold the position.
The 60-year-old will assume leadership of the country’s top court from Raymond Zondo, whose term as a Constitutional Court judge ends at the end of August.
President Ramaphosa appointed Maya following consultations with the Judicial Service Commission and political parties, confirming her nomination made in February. This comes after the judge was previously recommended for the same role in 2022 but bypassed in favour of Zondo.
Currently serving as Zondo’s deputy, she is one of four women among the Constitutional Court’s ten permanent judges.