South African judge Mandisa Maya was appointed chief justice by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday, becoming the first woman to secure the role.
Maya, 60, will take over the helm of the country’s top court from Raymond Zondo, whose term expires at the end of August.
Her rise marked a “significant milestone” as “Justice Maya would be the first woman in South Africa to be appointed Chief Justice,” the presidency said in a statement.
Ramaphosa confirmed the appointment after consultations with the Judicial Service Commission and political parties.
Maya had missed out on the top job in 2022 when the Judicial Service Commission recommended her for the role, but Ramaphosa chose Zondo, 64, instead.
Currently, Zondo’s deputy, the married mother of three is one of four women among the top court’s 10 permanent judges.
The justice ministry described her as a “brilliant legal mind and a trailblazer” with a long legal career that saw her become the first woman to hold the position of president of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
Minister Thembi Simelane said the appointment signifies progress in transforming courts in terms of race and gender.
South African women enjoy significant participation in public life, boasting one of the world’s most progressive constitutions. More than 40 percent of lawmakers, including the National Assembly speaker and her deputy, are women.
