JOHANNESBURG — President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday appointed Deputy Chief Justice and Head of State Arrest Investigation Raymond Zondo as South Africa’s substantive Chief Justice.
Zondo assumed the position after Mogoeng Mogoeng‘s tenure ended in October last year.
Ramaphosa’s decision follows a consultation with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and party leaders in the National Assembly on four candidates for the top job, according to a presidential statement Thursday afternoon.
“Consistent with the Constitution, the Chief Justice is the head of the judiciary and exercises the responsibility to establish and oversee the norms and standards for the performance of judicial functions by all courts,” the statement said.
After interviewing the four candidates, the JSC has recommended Judge Mandisa Maya for the post of Chief Judge, but Ramaphosa has other plans for her.
“With Justice Zondo assuming the position of Chief Justice, the position of Associate Chief Justice will become vacant.
“President Ramaphosa has therefore indicated his intention to appoint Justice Mandisa Maya as Associate Chief Justice once the new Chief Justice takes office. This appointment is subject to the process described in Article 174 (3) of the Constitution,” the statement added.
Meanwhile the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party fronted by Julius Malema has dismissed the appointed of Zondo as Chief Justice calling it “the short-sighted, factional and uninspired decision” by President Ramaphosa.
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