President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Friday the appointment of Justice Mahube Molemela as President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, effective from  June 1.

He said her appointment would add impetus to the continuing transformation of key institutions of the country’s democracy, including the judiciary.

Spokesperson to the President Vincent Magwenya explained that Ramaphosa had made the appointment in terms of Section 174(3) of the Constitution, after consulting the Judicial Service Commission and leaders of parties represented in the National Assembly.

Magwenya said Molemela was the first woman to have held the position of Judge President of the Free State Division of the High Court.

He said Justice Molemela was an outstanding jurist who would play a critical role in entrenching justice for all South Africans.

Molemela boasts a 15-year judicial career and was first appointed as a Judge of the Free State Division of the High Court in 2008.

“During her 15 years on the Bench she has served as a Judge President of Free State Division of the High Court for a period of three years before her elevation to the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2018. She has also served as a Judge of the Labour and Labour Appeal Court, Acting Judge of the Competition Appeal Court and Acting Judge of the Constitutional Court for two terms in 2015,” Magwenya said.

Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation to the incoming President of the Supreme Court of Appeal for her service to date in the judiciary and in the legal profession and wished her well in her new role.