South Africa Appoints First Female Chief Justice, a Milestone for the Country
In a historic move, South Africa has appointed its first female chief justice, Mandisa Maya, a 60-year-old jurist with a remarkable career. Maya, the current deputy chief justice, will take over as the head of the apex Constitutional Court on September 1, replacing Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who is retiring.
President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement on July 25, following a nomination in February and an interview with the Judicial Services Commission in May. The commission recommended Maya, noting that her appointment would be a significant milestone for the country.
Maya’s journey to the top is a testament to her determination and perseverance. Born in a rural part of South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, she won a Fulbright Scholarship in 1989 to pursue a Master’s in law at Duke University in the United States. This achievement was rare for a young Black woman during the apartheid era of racial segregation in South Africa.
In an interview in 2017, Maya revealed that she initially intended to study medicine but changed her mind on the first day of university, switching to law after looking at a medical textbook. Her decision proved to be a pivotal moment in her life, leading her to become the first Black woman to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal and the first woman to be appointed deputy president and then president of that court.
Maya’s appointment marks a significant shift in South Africa’s judicial history, as the country has had all-male chief justices since the post was created in 1910, when it was still a British colony. She will be the eighth chief justice since South Africa became a democracy with the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule in 1994.
Maya’s achievement is not only a milestone for South Africa but also a beacon of hope for women and marginalized communities around the world. Her appointment is a testament to the power of determination, hard work, and resilience, and it serves as a reminder that even the most seemingly insurmountable barriers can be overcome with courage and conviction.
