What to know about Mandisa Maya, South Africa's first female Chief Justice
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Mandisa Maya as the country’s first female Chief Justice.
Maya, who is currently the Deputy Chief Justice, will officially assume her new role on September 1, 2024.
As Chief Justice, Maya will lead the Constitutional Court and oversee the judiciary in South Africa, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s legal history.
Early Life and Education
Mandisa Maya was born on March 20, 1964, in St Cuthberts, Tsolo, Eastern Cape. Her upbringing in a family of teachers laid a strong foundation for her educational journey. She completed her high school education at St John’s College in King William’s Town and Mthatha in 1981. Maya earned her B.Proc from the University of Transkei, an LLB from the University of Natal, and an LLM from Duke University, where she was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship in 1989. Her academic credentials also include fellowships from Georgetown University and the Commonwealth Foundation.
Legal Career
Maya’s legal career began in 1987 as an attorney’s clerk at Dazana Mafungo Inc in Mthatha. She then served as a court interpreter and prosecutor before moving to Washington DC as a Legal Policy Counsel and Lobbyist. Returning to South Africa, she held roles as an Assistant State Law Adviser, law lecturer, and advocate.
Her judicial career features significant milestones: she was the first woman to serve as both Deputy President and President of the Supreme Court of Appeal and was the first black woman appointed as a judge of that court. Maya’s career also includes acting roles in Namibia and Lesotho, and she has been the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal since June 2017.
Contributions and Influence
Mandisa Maya has made significant contributions to the legal field, both nationally and internationally. She is the Vice President of the International Association of Women Judges and the founding president of its South African chapter.
Her judicial decisions have had a profound impact on South African law, including her ruling in the 2020 AfriForum case regarding the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction and her influential dissent in the 2011 Minister of Safety and Security case. Maya’s appointment as Chief Justice underscores her exceptional leadership and commitment to advancing justice and equality.
