Kathrada Foundation welcomes appointment of Judge Raymond Zondo as Chief Justice

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation welcomes news of the appointment of Judge Raymond Zondo as Chief Justice, as well as the appointment of Judge Mandisa Maya as Deputy Chief Justice. Judge Zondo brings 25 years of untainted service to this post. Together with Judge Mandisa Maya, the first woman to serve as the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the Apex Court has a dynamic leadership team to deal with leading the judiciary through the challenging period ahead. Judge Zondo’s appointment comes after a widely criticized Judicial Service Commission (JSC) process of interviews for the position. All four candidates for the post were jurists of distinction. However, the problematic line of questioning adopted by the JSC, and differential treatment given to the candidates as well as the explicit political agendas pursued by some of the panelists meant the interview process and JSC itself fell into public disrepute. Executive Director at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Neeshan Balton welcomed the news of
the appointment adding that the appointment of Judge Raymond Zondo as Chief Justice can bring much needed stability, certainty, and leadership to the judiciary. Judge Zondo’s spirited public defense of the independence of judiciary must be continued during his tenure as Chief Justice.
“The appointment of Judge Raymond Zondo as Chief Justice comes at a time of politically motivated attacks on a judiciary by many who hope to escape the “orange overalls” that should be coming their way once all their Stalingrad’ tactics have been exhausted. It is our hope that Judge Raymond Zondo and Judge Mandisa Maya appointments’ will help ensure that the
Judiciary is ringfenced against external threats to its independence“ said Balton.