By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has nominated Mandisa Muriel Lindelwa Maya as the next Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa.
Maya currently serves as Deputy Chief Justice and was appointed to the position in July 2022.
She previously held the positions of deputy president and president of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
The position of Chief Justice will become vacant on 31 August 2024 when Justice Raymond Zondo’s term of office comes to an end.
Maya is set to be South Africa’s first woman chief justice.
“President Ramaphosa has invited the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly to make submissions on the suitability or otherwise of Deputy Chief Justice Maya to hold the office of Chief Justice,” said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa has also consulted the Judicial Service Commission to process his nomination of Justice Dumisani Hamilton Zondi as Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Zondi currently serves as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
The term of office of the current Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Justice Xola Petse, will come to an end on 10 July 2024 when he attains the age of 70 and will be automatically discharged from office.