President Ramaphosa Appoints Justice Zondo as South Africa’s Chief Justice

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo as the next Chief Justice of South Africa with effect from 1 April 2022.

The President’s decision follows consultation with the Judicial Service Commission and leaders of parties in the National Assembly on four nominees for appointment as Chief Justice.

The process began in September 2021 when the public was invited to submit nominations. These were then evaluated by a panel, chaired by Judge Pillay. President Ramaphosa then identified four candidates from the shortlist. These were:

– Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga
– Justice Mandisa Maya
– Justice Dunston Mlambo
– Justice Raymond Zondo

On Thursday President Ramaphosa thanked all South Africans who submitted nominations, the officials who expressed their views on the suitability of each of the final four, and the four nominees themselves who made themselves available for the position of head of South Africa’s judiciary.

“The inclusive process of selecting the next Chief Justice demonstrated not only the value that South Africans place on the judiciary, but also the depth of experience and capability within the senior ranks of the judiciary,” President Ramaphosa said.

“The position of Chief Justice carries a great responsibility in our democracy. 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 Chief Justice stands as the champion of the rights of all South Africans and bears responsibility for ensuring equal access to justice. I have every confidence that Justice Zondo will acquit himself with distinction in this position.”

Justice Zondo was first appointed as a judge of the Labour Court in 1997 and was Judge President of the Labour and Labour Appeals courts between 2000 and 2010. He has been a judge of the Constitutional Court since 2012 and was appointed as Deputy Chief Justice in 2017. More recently he gained international fame as he presided over the Commission of Enquiry into Allegations of State Capture.

When Zondo vacates his current position of Deputy Chief Justice, President Ramaphosa has indicated he will appoint Justice Mandisa Maya in the role.

Political responses to appointment of Justice Zondo as Chief Justice

In response to the appointment, DA Leader John Steenhuisen said: “President Cyril Ramaphosa has chosen a safe pair of hands in appointing Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo as the next Chief Justice. Judge Zondo has a clear track record and will go a long way in restoring faith in the judiciary.”

Former DA Leader, OneSA’s Mmusi Maimane tweeted: “Congratulations to Raymond Zondo on his appointment to be the next Chief Justice of the Constitutional court of South Africa. May you serve South Africa honourably in this role and may you strengthen the credibility of the judiciary and increase access. God be with you.”

The EFF meanwhile rejected Ramaphosa’s “shortsighted, factional and uninspired” decision; and claimed Zondo’s appointment is a “reward for treating Ramaphosa with kid gloves at the Commission”. Accusing Zondo of being a “divisive force” in SA, the EFF says his appointment “effectively means that the capture of our judiciary by white-monopoly capital and its interests has been completed.”