- Ramaphosa named Maya as the country’s first female chief justice
- Maya will assume the role on September 1
- Maya overcame significant hurdles
In a historic appointment, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa named Mandisa Maya as the country’s first female chief justice on Thursday.
Maya, currently the deputy chief justice, will assume the role on September 1, succeeding the retiring Raymond Zondo.
With a distinguished legal career spanning decades, Maya has broken numerous glass ceilings. She was the first Black woman to serve as a judge on the Supreme Court of Appeal and the first woman to lead the court.
Her appointment to the highest judicial position in the country marks a significant milestone for gender equality and representation in South Africa.
A native of the Eastern Cape, Maya overcame significant hurdles to achieve her academic and professional successes.
Despite initial plans to study medicine, she switched to law and went on to earn a Fulbright scholarship to Duke University, a remarkable feat during the apartheid era.
The Judicial Services Commission recommended Maya for the chief justice position, highlighting the appointment as a “significant milestone” for the nation.
Her tenure begins as South Africa continues its journey towards a more equitable and just society.
