After Justice Mandisa Maya officially took on her role as the first female chief justice in the country last Sunday, her primary challenge in the first 100 days of her tenure will be to lead the newly reconstituted Judicial Service Commission (JSC). This body recently replaced several members and will conduct the most significant round of interviews since 2021.
More than 51 candidates will be interviewed for 22 vacancies at courts nationwide, including the judge president and several judge positions in the Western Cape High Court. President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Justice Maya after consulting with the JSC and the leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly.
Justice Maya was recognized for her efforts in transforming the Supreme Court of Appeal during her time as its judge president, closing the gender gap between male and female judges, and becoming the first judge to write a judgment in both English and her native language, isiXhosa.
According to IOL website The research and advocacy project Judges Matter mentioned that much attention would be focused on how the JSC fulfills its core responsibilities of appointing judges and taking disciplinary action against them for misconduct. Mbekezeli Benjamin, a researcher at Judges Matter, stated, “Chief Justice Maya is familiar with the workings of the JSC, having served as a member from 2017 to 2022 and previously acted as chairperson of the JSC in Chief Justice Zondo’s absence.
Therefore, we expect her to instill public confidence in the JSC’s commitment to taking these responsibilities seriously and carrying out its functions to the highest standards.” “In her official capacity as chief justice of South Africa, Judges Matter congratulates Justice Maya. We see this as a significant milestone in the advancement of women in the legal profession and the judiciary.
We eagerly anticipate collaborating with her on some of the challenges faced by the judiciary while simultaneously holding her accountable.”
