President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo as South Africa’s next chief justice with effect from April 1.
Zondo replaces Mogoeng Mogoeng who retired at the end of last year.
“I have every confidence that Justice Zondo will acquit himself with distinction in this position,” Ramaphosa said, noting that “the position of chief justice carries a great responsibility in our democracy.”
He added: “As the head of the judiciary, the chief justice is a guardian of our constitution and the laws adopted by the freely elected representatives of the people.”
The president opted for Zondo instead of Supreme Court of Appeal judge president Mandisa Maya who had been endorsed by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) following lengthy interviews with the four shortlisted candidates last month.
Ramaphosa said his decision came after consultations with the JSC and leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly on the four nominees for the top judiciary position.
He said his intension, once the new chief justice assumed office, was to nominate Maya for the position of deputy chief justice.
Zondo was born in May 1960 and joined the judiciary in 1997 as a Labour Court judge.
NM/jn/APA