As the country celebrates Women’s Month, Cabinet has congratulated Justice Mandisa Maya on her trailblazing appointment as South Africa’s first female incoming Chief Justice.
She is the first South African woman to lead the Constitutional Court after being appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Her new leadership role will begin on 1 September 2024.
Justice Maya previously served with distinction as the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal since 2017 and was the first woman to hold the position.
Briefing the media on the outcomes of the ordinary Cabinet meeting recently, Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the significance of Justice Maya’s appointment can be best understood with context.
“According to the International Association of Women Judges, in 1994, there were approximately 165 judges, 160 of whom were white men, three were black men, and two were white women; no black women were judges then.
“As of February 2023, there are 253 judges, comprised of which 113 are women, broken down to 32% black women plus 13% white women making up a total of 45% women representation. Additionally, the remaining 140 male judges are comprised of 39% black men and 17% white men,” Minister Ntshavheni said.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has invited citizens to take part in the Women's Month celebration.
“This year’s celebration of Women’s Month will take stock of progress made on socio-economic empowerment of women since the advent of democracy and the achievements of the objectives of the Women’s Charter.
“Our nation pays tribute to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women,” Ntshavheni said. – SAnews.gov.za
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