Ahead of Raymond Zondo’s end of term as Chief Justice on August 31, President Cyril Ramaphosa has nominated current Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to take over.

The President is calling on political party leaders in Parliament to comment on Maya’s suitability.

Drawing out her career, Ramaphosa noted that she held degrees from the University of Transkei, University of Natal, Duke University in the US and honorary LLD degrees from the Universities of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela.

She began her career, in 2000, as a judge in the Eastern Cape High Court and has held the positions of Deputy and President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa has also nominated Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Dumisani Hamilton Zondi to take on the role of Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Justice Xola Petse’s term as Deputy President comes to an end on July 10, when he turns 70.

Zondi has degrees from the University of Fort Hare, the University of Natal, and from Georgetown University, in the US.

“Following a successful career in practice, Justice Zondi was appointed to the Western Cape Bench in 2007. In 2011, he became a Judge of the Competition Appeal Court. Justice Zondi was elevated to the Supreme Court of Appeal in June 2014. In 2022, he was appointed as a Chairperson of the Electoral Court,” the Presidency revealed.

Ramaphosa will await submissions from the Judicial Service Commission on Zondi’s suitability for the position.