By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Outgoing Chief Justice Raymond Zondo was celebrated at a farewell dinner in Johannesburg. Zondo is set to retire at the end of August, after a distinguished 27-year judicial career.
Several dignitaries, including former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and former president Kgalema Motlanthe, paid tribute to Zondo for his distinguished judicial career.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had appointed Zondo as the chief justice of the Republic of South Africa in 2022, and during his term, Zondo was pivotal in advancing the transformation of the judiciary, leading the Labour Appeal Court through significant challenges, and presiding over the State Capture Commission.
In her opening remarks, Zondo’s successor as Chief Justice, Mandisa Maya, said Zondo leaves behind a legacy of excellence and is joining the ranks of his predecessors.
Maya expressed her appreciation for Zondo’s support and collegiality since she joined the Constitutional Court two years ago.
“Through you, I gained invaluable insights into the functioning of the court, the vast challenges that confront the judiciary, and where and how one may start to address them,” she said.
“I have no doubt that even though you are leaving us, you will make time to assist as we grapple with the mammoth task of establishing a fully independent, efficient, and unified judiciary.”
Maya also thanked Zondo for supporting women in the judiciary, as in his two years as chief justice, two women judge presidents, more women deputy judge presidents, and a woman deputy chief justice were appointed, and now South Africa’s first woman chief justice.
Zondo’s friend and his predecessor, the former chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, reflected on his friendship with Zondo and KwaZulu-Natal acting judge president Isaac Madondo since their first year at the University of Zululand.
Mogoeng said the trio shared a dream of becoming prolific lawyers despite poverty and a lack of support, and that Zondo was hungry to make it in life.
He added that after they passed first, the trio were determined to pursue an LLB at the University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal), where they could compete with their white counterparts, before then obtaining LLMs from the University of South Africa (Unisa).
“We were determined not to have anybody pity us but to succeed,” the retired judge said.
Justice and constitutional development minister Thembi Simelane, who delivered Ramaphosa’s speech on his behalf, said that through his service, Zondo has earned the admiration, respect, and gratitude of all South Africans.
Ramaphosa is battling with an eye infection that has led him to cancel farewell dinner held in for Zondo, who is retiring at the end of August after a judicial career spanning 27 years.
“A man of wisdom tempered by experience, a man of unwavering principle and integrity, you have been a man of humility and will continue to be a man of courage, “Simelane read.
When speaking of the State Capture Commission, the president said that history will record that Zondo fulfilled his responsibility with wisdom and diligence.
“The State Capture Commission has more clearly defined the ethical underpinnings of our democratic state. Our task is now to follow in your direction,” Ramaphosa said in his tribute.
He added that Zondo endured personal attacks and had to defend the judiciary, yet he stood firm in upholding the independence of the judiciary.
Born in Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Zondo matriculated from St Mary’s Seminary before studying law at the University of Zululand, the University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal), and later at the University of South Africa.
Zondo holds a B. Juris degree, an LLB degree, an LLM degree (cum laude) in labour law, a LLM degree with specialisation in commercial law, and a LLM degree in patent law.
He served his articles of clerkship under Victoria Mxenge before she was assassinated by apartheid agents, and he practised as an attorney in Durban for many years before he was appointed as a judge of the labour court in 1997.
In April 1999, Zondo was appointed as a judge of the then Transvaal provincial division of the high court, and then he served as judge-president of the labour appeal court and labour court for close to 11 years. His term ended in April 2010.
In 2012, he was appointed as a justice of the Constitutional Court for 12 years, and in 2017, Zondo was appointed as the deputy chief justice.
In January 2018, Zondo was appointed as the chairperson of the State Capture Commission, and as of 1 April 2022, he served as the chief justice of South Africa.