Justice Mandisa Maya was born in Tsolo, Eastern Cape, and grew up in King William’s Town and Mthatha. She completed her high school education at St John’s College. She earned a BProc degree from the University of the Transkei (now Walter Sisulu University) in 1986, followed by an LLB from the University of Natal, Durban, in 1988. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study for an LLM at Duke University School of Law in the United States, focusing on Labour Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Constitutional Law, which she completed in 1990.
Justice Maya began her legal career as an Assistant State Law Adviser in Mthatha in 1991 and was admitted to the Transkei Bar in 1994. She has held various judicial roles since July 1999 and joined the Bench of the Supreme Court of Appeal in May 2006. In 2015, she was appointed Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, and in 2016, she served as Acting President. In May 2017, she made history as the first woman to be appointed President of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
She has been actively involved in several professional organizations, including the Black Lawyers Association, the National Association for Democratic Lawyers, and the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies. In 2004, she founded the South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges and remains a dedicated member. Her leadership extends to various advisory roles in organizations such as Lawyers Against Violence, the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law, and the South African Judicial Education Institute. Since 2013, she has served on the South African Law Reform Commission, including as Chairperson, and on the board of the South African Journal on Human Rights. In 2012, she received the South African Women Lawyers Icon award for her contributions to empowering and mentoring women in the judiciary and the legal profession.
Justice Maya’s community involvement includes participation in the Transkei Women Zenzele Association and the Women’s Economic Advancement Group (Pty) Ltd, where she promotes women’s rights. Her commitment to constitutional values is evident through her activism and community engagement. As President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, she symbolizes gender transformation and plays a crucial role in promoting cultural and gender rights and equality.
Throughout her judicial career, Justice Maya has delivered numerous judgments on complex legal issues, showcasing her extensive legal knowledge. She is highly respected in the legal community for her integrity and independence, known for her sensitivity to gender-based violence and socio-economic inequalities. Her peers commend her for her broad understanding of the law and her sensitivity to the vulnerabilities of women and children.
Justice Maya’s contributions to the development of law in South Africa and her dedication to constitutional democracy and human rights, particularly equality and the dignity of vulnerable populations, make her a distinguished figure in the judiciary. Her historic appointment as the first woman President of the Supreme Court of Appeal highlights her expertise and leadership qualities.
