Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s judicial journey comes to an end

Outgoing Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s term as a constitutional justice is coming to an end. He will retire after his 12-year non-renewable term ends this month. Zondo was appointed Chief Justice by President Cyril Ramaphosa, effectively from the 1st of April 2022, following the retirement of Mogoeng Mogoeng. The 64-year-old Zondo’s last day before retirement is 31 August, with his last judgment on Wednesday 21 August.

Chief Justice Zondo was appointed as a Constitutional Court justice by former President Jacob Zuma in August 2012. But his appointment was effective from the 1st of September in the same year.

Zondo was later appointed Deputy Chief Justice. His personal experience of how he became a judge, as related during the Judicial Service Commission interview for the deputy Chief Justice position in 2017, was an emotional one. He shared how a businessman from Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal, came to his rescue, to help him feed his family while he studied.

“Very interestingly that man didn’t even ask me many questions. He said ok I can help you. But I can’t give you money. But I can give you a voucher which you must give to your mom. Once a month she must come to my shop and she will be given groceries up to the value, I think it was R20 if I’m not mistaken or R40. It was quite some money back then. And he said, until you finish your degree this is what we’ll do, and you can repay it after your degree. So, I was very happy he didn’t ask me to sign anything he just took my word and my mom could not believe when I came back from town and told her that I have been able to make arrangements so that they would be able to have groceries while I was studying.”

He remembered how he wanted to repay the money to the Good Samaritan.

“And that is what happened for three years and when I had finished my junior degree I went back to this man, his name was Mr Moosa and I thanked him and asked him what arrangements could be made for me to pay back. So, he said no don’t worry just do to others what I’ve done to you. And I thought that was very important and in my own small way I tried to do that,”

Zondo acted as Chief Justice after his predecessor Mogoeng Mogoeng took long leave and later went into retirement after his term ended. He became one of four candidates interviewed for the position of Chief Justice in February 2022.

Although it was not an easy ride during his 12-hour interview conducted by the Judicial Service Commission, he ended it on a lighter note and vowed not to return to be interviewed by the JSC.

“I just want to thank you for this opportunity. Thank you very much. On a lighter note, that whatever happens, this is the last time I appear before this commission as a candidate. I will never appear again. So, commissioner Malema you will never have a chance to ask me questions again.”

He has been Chief Justice for just over two years. And his 12-year non-renewable term as an Apex court judge, is ending. In terms of the Constitution, a Concourt Judge can serve a non-renewable term of 12 years or until the age of 70, whichever comes first.

Zondo’s legacy as a Justice is notable. Judges Matter gave a brief reflection on his role as the country’s top judge.

“When he came in as Chief Justice, obviously he had acted as Chief Justice for over a year, so he was aware of some of the burning issues in the judiciary. He was able to deal with some. JSC is one big example where he made quite a significant impact on how that system works. But there were some unfortunately because of his time at the state capture commission, they did distract a bit from his role as Chief Justice because there were number of times when he came into conflict with Parliament for example over remarks he had made as chairperson at the state capture commission. So, for the general public, it was hard to divide his role as Chief Justice versus his role as chairperson of the state capture commission. And that part was unfortunate because his work as chairperson of the state capture commission was commendable,” says Mbekezeli Benjamin from Judges Matter.

While he has been a known jurist, his role as State Capture Commission Chairperson, made him a household name.

The State Capture Commission’s report was handed over two years ago, after almost four years of investigation.

A year later, Zondo reflected on the state capture report and the workload that came with it.

“This workshop is held exactly one year since I submitted the last two part of the report of the state capture commission to the president. It was on the evening of 22 June 2022 that I handed part five and of the commission’s report to the president. When I handed those two parts of report to the president some members of my team and I had been working continuously for something like 36 hours without sleeping as we pushed ourselves to finish the report and hand it over to the president.”

Before bowing out from the Constitutional Court, Zondo had the opportunity to preside over the first sitting of the new National Assembly and the NCOP as Chief Justice, following the outcome of the May 2024 elections.

“This meeting has been convened by me as Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa in terms of section 51 subsection 1 of the constitution of the republic. Do you have any objection to taking the prescribed oath?…no…you consider the oath binding on your conscience…yes…please read the oath allowed so that the people of South Africa can hear what you are committing yourself to.”

He also had the opportunity to preside over the swearing-in ceremony of the New National Executive appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa under the Government of National Unity.

Justice Zondo is handing over the baton to the first female Chief Justice in the history of South Africa and the of a democratic South Africa, Justice Mandisa Maya. Maya is expected to hold the position for the next 10 years, until March 2034 when she turns 70, just a few months before her 12-year non-renewable term as a Constitutional Court Justice would end.