Chief Justice Mandisa Maya is the current Chief Justice of South Africa and the first woman in the country's history to hold this highest judicial office. She officially assumed office on 1 September 2024 after being appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Educational background: B. Proc – University of Transkei (iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu); LLB – University of Natal; LLM – Duke University.
Her legal career began as a prosecutor and State Law Adviser in Transkei. She was admitted as an advocate in 1994, appointed as a judge of the High Court in 2000, elevated to the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2006, became the first woman Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2015, and the first woman President of the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2017. She was appointed Deputy Chief Justice in 2022 and South Africa's first female Chief Justice in 2024.
Chief Justice Mandisa Maya is one of South Africa's most distinguished jurists and a trailblazer in the legal profession. Widely respected for her judicial excellence, integrity, and commitment to constitutional values, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening the independence of the judiciary and advancing transformation within South Africa's legal system.
