AFTER a long week of high drama and fiery deliberations, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Saturday nominated President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Justice Mandisa Maya as the next Chief Justice of South Africa.
JSC spokesperson Dali Mpofu made the announcement about 6.30pm on Saturday shortly after an eight-hour long session of deliberations.
Mpofu said that President Cyril Ramaphosa was clearly not bound by what the JSC or political parties recommended as the Constitution stated the president should appoint a suitable chief justice after consultation with the JSC and political parties in the National Assembly.
If Ramaphosa agrees with the JSC, Justice Maya will be SA’s first ever female Chief Justice.
A career jurist, Justice Maya is the first female who has served as President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
She beat acting deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo and Justice Mbuyiseni Madlanga.
The EFF said on Saturday night that it welcomed the decision by the JSC to recommend justice Maya as the next Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa.
The party said in a statement that by recommending Judge President Maya, the JSC has provided the President of the Republic an opportunity to right the many wrongs in our judicial system in terms of gender representation.
“Not only is Judge Maya well qualified, competent and experienced, she showed immense vision and understanding of the law in our country and its relation to empowering women within and outside of the judiciary,” said the EFF.
“Judge Maya expressed a necessary lack of appetite to descend into the political arena, and wash one stand direct when confronted by difficult and sometimes controversial questions . Her interview was not only qualitatively superior, but revealed a candidate for Chief Justice who will not be a divisive force in society.”
