The current South African Chief Justice of the Constitutional court Raymond Zondo retires at the end of August 2024 after a spanning 27 years of dedicated service to the South African public.
Zondo completed his LLB studies at the University of Natal and he was admitted as an attorney in 1989. The Chief Justice who possesses Master of Law in Commercial Law, Labour Law and Patent Law, was appointed as a judge of the labour court in 1997, three years later he became judge president of the labour law. In 2012 he was appointed the judge of the constitutional court.
After the retirement of Dikgang Moseneke, former president Jacob Zuma appointed Zondo as Deputy Chief Justice in 2017, later under the leadership of the current president Cyril Ramaphosa, he was appointed as the Chief Justice of the constitutional court of South Africa in 2022.
Raymond Zondo became widely known and respected in his profession in SA for his work ethics and integrity on the Zondo Commission, which was established to expose and eradicate corruption within the government administration that governed under the previous leadership of the former president Jacob Zuma.
In a farewell dinner held in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg on the 13th of August 2024Tuesday night, for the outgoing Chief Justice Zondo. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Thembi Simelane praised Zondo as an outstanding employee of the state, who have executed his work with wisdom combined with experience, integrity and courage. She said “Tonight, we honor a person who possesses all the virtues demanded of a judges foretold by the ancients. A man of wisdom, tempered by experience, a man of unwavering principle and integrity. A man of humility and courage”.
During his time as the Chief Justice, Zondo played a vital role in transforming South Africa’s judiciary, presiding over the state capture commission to restore the society’s confidence and faith in the government processes. She further continued that “The nation, thanks you for your service, the bench, the legal fraternity and our country is all richer for your contribution, we are confident that your important voice and wise counsel will not be lost to us in this new era in the life of our country”.
For the first time in South African history, on the 1st of September 2024, Zondo will be replaced by Justice Maya, who will be the first female Chief Justice, distinguished as the most brilliant legal mind with a judicial record and leadership qualities. According to Minister Simelane Justice Maya “brings with her profound experience and legal brilliance spanning many decades in the legal profession”.
