President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo as the country’s Chief Justice effective from the 1st of April.
He has accordingly indicated his intention that once the new Chief Justice assumes office, he will nominate Justice Mandisa Maya for the position of Deputy Chief Justice.
The appointment of Raymond Zondo as the Head of the country’s Judiciary went against the wish of the Judicial Service Commission which recommended the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal Justice Mandisa Maya for the position of the Chief Justice.
JSC Interview | Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo
President Ramaphosa’s decision follows consultations with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the leaders of parties in the National Assembly on the four nominees for appointment as Chief Justice.
The statement from the Presidency says, “In terms of the Constitution, the Chief Justice is “the head of the judiciary and exercises responsibility over the establishment and monitoring of norms and standards for the exercise of the judicial functions of all courts.”
Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo was one of four candidates to be interviewed for the position of Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.
The interviews began on February 1. This was the first time the JSC held interviews with more than one candidate forwarded by the President to hold the office of a top judge in the country.
The interview process came after Ramaphosa invited the public to forward names and appointed an advisory panel to counsel him.