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Chief Justice of South Africa
Flag of South Africa.svg
Raymond Zondo.png
Incumbent
Raymond Zondo
since 1 April 2022
Style The Honourable
Nominator Judicial Service Commission
Appointer President of South Africa
Term length 12 years
Inaugural holder Lord de Villiers
Formation 1910
Deputy Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa
Website Office of the Chief Justice

The Chief Justice of South Africa is the most important judge in the country. This person leads the entire court system in South Africa. They are also the main judge of the Constitutional Court. This court makes sure that laws follow the country's Constitution.

The role of Chief Justice started in 1910 when the Union of South Africa was formed. The first Chief Justice was Sir John Henry de Villiers. He was previously the Chief Justice of the Cape Colony. For many years, the Chief Justice also had a special backup role. If the Governor-General (who represented the King or Queen) couldn't do their job, the Chief Justice would step in. This happened a few times in the 1940s and 1950s.

What is the Chief Justice's Job?

The Chief Justice's job today was officially set up in 2001. Before that, there were two main high-ranking judge positions. One was the Chief Justice, and the other was the President of the Constitutional Court. These two roles were combined into one.

Now, the Chief Justice leads the Constitutional Court. This court is very important for making sure everyone's rights are protected. The Chief Justice also makes sure all other courts in South Africa run smoothly.

Chief Justices in a New South Africa

When South Africa became a democracy in the early 1990s, Michael Corbett was the Chief Justice. He took office in 1989. Even though he was appointed by the old government, he was well-respected.

After South Africa changed from Apartheid (a system of racial separation), President Nelson Mandela praised Chief Justice Corbett. Mandela said Corbett had a "passion for justice" and cared about fairness.

The first Chief Justice appointed in post-apartheid South Africa was Ismail Mahomed. He was a very important judge of Indian descent. He became Chief Justice in 1998 and served until his death in 2000.

After Mahomed's death, the two top judicial roles were combined. Arthur Chaskalson, a leading human rights lawyer, was appointed to this new combined role in 2001. He continued the important work of leading the Constitutional Court.

Chief Justices of South Africa (1910 - Present)

List of Chief Justices
No. Chief Justice Image Tenure
1 John de Villiers, 1st Baron de Villiers (1842-1914) John Henry De Villiers - Baron and Attorney General - Cape Colony.jpg 1910 - 1914
2 James Rose Innes (1855-1942) Sir James Rose Innes, portrait.jpg 1914 - 1927
3 William Henry Solomon (1852-1930) Justice WH Solomon.jpg 1927 - 1929
4 Jacob de Villiers (1868-1932) Judge Jacob de Villiers.png 1929 - 1932
5 John Wessels (1862-1936) Coat of arms of South Africa (1932–2000).svg 1932 - 1936
6 John Stephen Curlewis (1863-1940) Coat of arms of South Africa (1932–2000).svg 1936 - 1938
7 James Stratford (1869-1952) Coat of arms of South Africa (1932–2000).svg 1938 - 1939
8 Nicolaas Jacobus de Wet (1873-1960) Nicolaas de Wet.jpg 1939 - 1943
9 Ernest Frederick Watermeyer (1880-1958) Coat of arms of South Africa (1932–2000).svg 1943 - 1950
10 Albert van der Sandt Centlivres (1887-1966) Student Representative Council, University of Cape Town, 1906 (cropped).jpg 1950 - 1957
11 Henry Allan Fagan (1889-1963) Henry Allan Fagan c.1916 (cropped).jpg 1957 - 1959
12 Lucas Cornelius Steyn (1903-1976) Lucas Cornelius Steyn, 1974.jpg 1959 - 1971
13 Newton Ogilvie Thompson (1904-1992) Coat of arms of South Africa (1932–2000).svg 1971 - 1974
14 Frans Lourens Herman Rumpff (1912-1992) Chief Justice Frans Rumpff, c.1974.jpg 1974 - 1982
15 Pierre Rabie (1917-1997) Chief Justice Pierre Rabie.jpg 1982 - 1989
16 Michael Corbett (judge) (1923-1997) Coat of arms of South Africa (1932–2000).svg 1989 - 1996
17 Ismail Mahomed (1931-2000) Ismail Mahomed.jpg 1997 - 2000
18 Arthur Chaskalson (1931-2012) Coat of arms of South Africa (heraldic).svg 2001 - 2005
19 Pius Langa (1939-2013) Coat of arms of South Africa (heraldic).svg 2005 - 2009
20 Sandile Ngcobo (1953) Sandile Ngcobo.jpg 2009 - 2011
21 Mogoeng Mogoeng (1961) Mogoeng Mogoeng.png 2011 - 2021
22 Raymond Zondo (1960) Raymond Zondo.png 2022 - present

The current Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo, will retire in August 2024. President Ramaphosa has suggested Deputy Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to take his place. If she is appointed, she will be the first woman to hold this very important role in South Africa.

See also

  • Constitutional Court of South Africa
  • Constitution of South Africa

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