After four days of grueling and sometimes invasive interviews, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has recommended Supreme Court of Appeal President Justice Mandisa Maya as the next Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.
The JSC made the announcement on Saturday that it has recommended to President Cyril Ramaphosa that he appoints Justice Maya as the next chief justice.
“After much deliberation, the JSC has come to the decision to recommend that the president appoints Justice Mandisa Maya the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal to be the next Chief Justice of South Africa,” said Advocate Dali Mpofu SC, who spoke on behalf of the JSC.
The JSC comprises 23 representatives from different structures of the South African government and local legal community.
Friday’s interview of Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who turns 62 in May, was the last of four that the JSC conducted for the vacant chief justice position.
The JSC preferred candidate Judge Maya, 57, was interviewed on Wednesday, during which she said questions about whether women were ready for the position were “annoying”.
“I’m not here simply because I am a woman. I’m a judge, and a worthy judge I think … I have proven myself over 22 years,” said Maya.
“It’s very important that I am a woman but I am not good because I am a woman. I am just a good woman judge.”
Judge President Dunstan Mlambo, 61, was interviewed on Thursday.
Justice Mbuyiseli Russel Madlanga, 59, was the first to be interviewed on Tuesday.
