Date of Birth

20 March 1964

University

B.Proc (1986) (University of Transkei – now Walter Sisulu University), LLB (1988) (University of Natal – now University of KwaZulu-Natal), LLM in Labour Law (1990) (Duke University School of Law, as a Fulbright Scholar)

History at the Court:

Appointed Deputy Chief Justice: 1 September 2022. Appointed Chief Justice: 1 September 2024.

Brief biography

Chief Justice Maya’s early career included roles as an attorney’s clerk, court interpreter, prosecutor, legal policy counsel, and law lecturer. She was called to the Bar and practised as an advocate before her elevation to the bench.

In July 1999, Maya was appointed as an acting judge in the Mthatha High Court (Transkei Division). On 1 May 2000, she took up a permanent position as a judge of the Transkei Division of the High Court. She also served in acting capacities in the Labour Court, the Bhisho High Court (Ciskei Division), and the Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth High Courts (Eastern Cape Division).

On 12 May 2006, President Thabo Mbeki appointed Maya as a permanent judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal; she took office in June 2006, making her the first black woman ever appointed to that court. In September 2009, she was shortlisted as a candidate for the Constitutional Court but was not appointed at that time.

In September 2015, Maya was appointed Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal – the first woman to hold that office. In May 2017 (effective June 2017), she was appointed President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, again the first woman in that role. During her tenure she authored the first recorded judgment of a superior court written in isiXhosa.

On 1 September 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Maya as Deputy Chief Justice – the first woman to hold this office. On 21 May 2024, she was interviewed by the Judicial Service Commission for the position of Chief Justice, and on 25 July 2024, President Ramaphosa announced her appointment as Chief Justice, effective 1 September 2024, making her South Africa’s first female Chief Justice.

JSC interviews

September 2009 – Constitutional Court vacancy (shortlisted, not appointed)
May/June 2012 – Constitutional Court vacancy (interviewed, not appointed)
June 2015 – Deputy President of the SCA (appointed)
April 2017 – President of the SCA (appointed)
May 2024 – Chief Justice (appointed)

Selection of Judgments written

To be populated with a selection of Constitutional Court judgments authored by Chief Justice Maya.