September 1st, 2024, marked a historic turning point for the South African judicial system. For the first time, a woman has ascended to the highest judicial office in the country. Mandisa Maya, 60, has officially assumed her role as President of the Constitutional Court, making her South Africa’s most eminent magistrate.
This appointment, announced in July 2024 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, follows the retirement of Raymond Zondo. Ms. Maya’s journey is marked by several firsts: she was notably the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court of Appeal, as well as the first woman to hold the positions of Deputy President and then President of that court.
The rigorous selection process saw Ms. Maya interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission in May. Her appointment was hailed as “a significant milestone for the country” by President Ramaphosa.
Originally from the Eastern Cape province, where she was born on March 20, 1964, Mandisa Maya has climbed the ranks of the South African judiciary with determination. Her career began in the Transkei, first as a prosecutor and then as state legal advisor. Admitted to the bar in 1994, she was appointed as a High Court judge in 2000 by President Thabo Mbeki.
Her academic journey is equally remarkable. In 1989, in the midst of apartheid, she secured a Fulbright scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in law at Duke University in the United States, an exceptional achievement for a young Black woman at that time.
The appointment of Mandisa Maya as the head of the Constitutional Court is a testament to the progress made in gender equality and representation within the South African judicial system. Her ascension to this crucial position opens new horizons for justice in the country.