Mandisa Maya and Jacob Zuma
By Thabo Mosia, Assistant News Editor
Johannesburg – The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has firmly refuted allegations of a close relationship between Chief Justice Designate Mandisa Maya and former President Jacob Zuma. These claims were made in a report by Opera News, which the OCJ has denounced as unfounded and false.
The False Claims
The contentious article, published on 27 July 2024, claimed that Justice Maya expressed deep personal gratitude towards Zuma, describing him as a “brother to me and father to my children” after her recent appointment. The OCJ has made it clear that Justice Maya has never met or had any contact with Zuma, and any suggestion of a personal relationship is entirely false.
Official Statement
In an official statement, the OCJ emphasized that Justice Maya had never made such statements and that any purported relationship between her and Zuma was baseless. The office also stressed the need to attribute their statement solely to the OCJ, not to any individual within the judiciary.
The Context of the Article
The OCJ pointed out that the article appears to confuse a statement made by Justice Maya during her 2017 appointment as President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). At that time, she acknowledged Zuma’s courage in nominating her, despite not knowing her personally, which was a matter of public record and made during a Judicial Service Commission (JSC) interview.
Demands from the OCJ
The OCJ has demanded that Opera News remove the false article and cease making these inaccurate claims in future publications. They also called for a public apology to Justice Maya for the publication of the misleading information.
Historic Appointment Announcement
Amidst these false claims, the Presidency announced on Thursday that President Cyril Ramaphosa, in accordance with Section 174(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, has appointed Justice Mandisa Maya as the Chief Justice of South Africa, effective from 1 September 2024. This appointment is historic, as Justice Maya will be the first woman to hold this esteemed position.
Endorsement and Qualification
Justice Maya’s appointment follows thorough consultations with the JSC and political party leaders in the National Assembly. The JSC endorsed her after a detailed assessment of her qualifications, judicial record, leadership qualities, and extensive experience. Her previous roles include President of the Supreme Court of Appeal and Deputy Chief Justice.
Commitment to Judicial Integrity
In her interview with the JSC, Justice Maya committed to enhancing stability and public confidence in the judiciary. She stressed the importance of an impartial, independent, effective, accountable, responsive, and cohesive judiciary, vowing to uphold these values if appointed.
Justice Maya’s Career and Achievements
Born on 20 March 1964 in St Cuthbert’s, Tsolo, Eastern Cape, Justice Maya has had a distinguished career. She holds a B Proc from the University of Transkei, an LLB from the University of Natal, and an LLM from Duke University in the USA. Her roles have ranged from attorney’s clerk to Deputy Chief Justice, with significant contributions to the legal field and gender transformation in the judiciary.
Recognitions and Awards
Justice Maya has been honored with numerous awards, including the Eastern Cape Chamber of Business Annual Law Award and the Duke Law Alumni Association International Award. She also holds honorary doctorates from Nelson Mandela University, Walter Sisulu University, and the University of Fort Hare.
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