Cyril Ramaphosa, a resident of South Africa, appointed Raymond Zondo, the chair of the state capture inquiry, as the country’s next chief justice on Thursday.
Zondo had been acting in that capacity since Mogoeng Mogoeng’s term ended in October of last year.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency on Thursday afternoon, Ramaphosa’s decision is the result of consultations with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and party leaders in the National Assembly on four nominees for the top post.
“In terms of the Constitution, the Chief Justice is the head of the judiciary and exercises responsibility over the establishment and monitoring of norms and standards for the exercise of the judicial functions of all courts,” the statement read.
The JSC had recommended Justice Mandisa Maya for the position of chief justice following interviews with the four candidates, but Ramaphosa has other plans for her.
“With Justice Zondo assuming the position of chief justice, the position of deputy chief justice will become vacant. President Ramaphosa has accordingly indicated his intention, once the new chief justice assumes office, to nominate Justice Mandisa Maya for the position of deputy chief justice. This nomination will be subject to the process outlined in Section 174(3) of the Constitution,” the statement added.