In a groundbreaking move, South Africa has appointed its first-ever female chief justice. Mandisa Maya, a 60-year-old trailblazer, will take the helm of the country’s Constitutional Court on September 1st. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in South African history, shattering the glass ceiling that has existed since the position’s creation in 1910.
Maya’s journey to the top is nothing short of remarkable. Growing up in rural Eastern Cape, she defied the odds during the apartheid era by securing a Fulbright Scholarship to study law at Duke University. Initially drawn to medicine, a chance encounter with a medical textbook on her first day of university led her to pursue law instead – a decision that would shape her future and the nation’s legal landscape.
Throughout her career, Maya has consistently broken barriers. She became the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Appeal and later its president. Her appointment as chief justice comes after a rigorous selection process, including an interview with the Judicial Services Commission.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, in announcing Maya’s appointment, emphasized its significance for the country. As South Africa’s eighth chief justice since the end of apartheid in 1994, Maya’s leadership promises to bring a fresh perspective to the nation’s highest court, potentially influencing legal decisions for years to come.