Chief Justice of South Africa

Chief Justice of South Africa
List
  • 10 other official names:
  • Hoofregter van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans)
  • Ijaji eliKhulu weSewula Afrika (Southern Ndebele)
  • iJaji eyiNtloko waseMzantsi Afrika (Xhosa)
  • IJaji eliyiNhloko yaMajaji aseNingizimu Afrika (Zulu)
  • Lijaji Lelikhulu weleNingizimu Afrika (Swazi)
  • Moahlodimogolo wa Afrika Borwa (Northern Sotho)
  • Moahlodi e Moholo wa Afrika Borwa (Sotho)
  • Moatlhodimogolo wa Aforika Borwa (Tswana)
  • Muavanyisinkulu wa Afrika-Dzonga (Tsonga)
  • Muhaṱuli Muhulwane wa Afrika Tshipembe (Venda)
Flag of South Africa
Incumbent
Mandisa Maya
since 1 September 2024
StyleThe Honourable
NominatorJudicial Service Commission
AppointerPresident of South Africa
Term length12 years
Inaugural holderLord de Villiers
Formation1910
DeputyDeputy Chief Justice of South Africa
WebsiteOffice of the Chief Justice

The chief justice of South Africa[1] is the most senior judge of the Constitutional Court and head of the judiciary of South Africa, who exercises final authority over the functioning and management of all the courts.

The position of chief justice was created upon the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, with the chief justice of the Cape Colony, Sir (John) Henry de Villiers (later created The 1st Baron de Villiers), being appointed the first chief justice of the newly created Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa.

Until 1961, the chief justice held a dormant commission as Officer Administering the Government, meaning that if the governor-general died or was incapacitated the chief justice would exercise the powers and duties of the governor-general. This commission was invoked in 1943 under Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet, and in 1959 and 1961 under Lucas Cornelius Steyn.

  1. ^ "Statement by President Zuma on the extension of Judge Ngcobo's Service". The Presidency. Government of South Africa. 3 June 2011. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.