South African Judge Mandisa Maya started her term as the country’s chief justice on September 1, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
Maya, 60 takes over from former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo who retired as head of the Constitutional Court on August 31.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) recommended Maya for South Africa’s Chief Justice in 2022, but President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Zondo instead.
On July 25, President Ramaphosa announced the appointment of Maya as the next Chief Justice of South Africa effective from September 1 following consultations with the JSC.
Maya is credited with transforming the Supreme Court of Appeal while leading the court from 2017 to 2022 by spearheading the digitalization of court administration.
In the 2020 case of AfriForum vs Unisa, Judge Maya made history by writing her ruling in both isiXhosa, her mother tongue, and English, a first in South Africa.
Mandisa Muriel Lindelwa Maya a short biography
- She was born on 20 March 1964 in St Cuthbert’s, Tsolo in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa
- Maya did her matric at St John’s College, in Mthatha
- Married to Dabulamanzi Mlokoti
- Maya is the eldest of six children to Sandile and Nombulelo Maya who were both teachers
- She graduated with a BProc in 1986 and a LLB in 1988 from the University of Transkei
- Maya worked as an interpreter and public prosecutor at the Mthatha Magistrates Court from 1988 to 1989
- She graduated with an LLM from Duke University School of Law in 1990 after securing a Fullbright Scholarship
- Maya was an assistant state law adviser in Mthatha from 1991 to 1993
- She was admitted as an advocate in 1994
- Maya practiced at the Transkei Bar for 5 years before being appointed acting judge in 1999 in the Mthatha High Court
- She became a judge on 1 May 2020 in the Transkei Division
- Maya was appointed as an acting judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal in February 2005
- She was appointed as a Judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal by President Thabo Mbeki on 12 May 2006
- Maya was appointed Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal by President Jacob Zuma on 23 September 2015
- She was appointed President of the Supreme Court of Appeal by President Jacob Zuma on 26 May 2017
- Maya was appointed Deputy Chief Justice on 1 September 2022
- She was a founding member of the South African chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) in 2002.
- Maya was appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga in July 2021
