-Naadiya Adams

Deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo has assumed all responsibilities as Acting Chief Justice effective from Thursday, 01 July 2021. The appointment was made public by the office of the chief justice on Friday.

“The Deputy Chief Justice will exercise the powers or perform the functions of the Chief Justice as the Acting Chief Justice,’’ read the statement.

Sisi Khampepe, who has served as acting chief justice for the past two months, has seen her term come to an end on June 30. She had taken on the position when chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng went on long leave on May 6th.

Zondo was initially unable to fulfil his role as acting chief justice due to his work with the State Capture Commission but as the commission draws to a close, he is now in a position to take on the role.

“The work of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State, has now, despite the extension, reached a stage that the Deputy Chief Justice will be in a position to fulfil his responsibilities as Acting Chief Justice while attending to the finalisation of the Commission’s work,” read the statement.

Khampepe makes her exit just days after she made a historical ruling, sentencing former President  Jacob Zuma to 15 months imprisonment for being in contempt of court. The ruling came after he had snubbed the State Capture inquiry chaired by Zondo and failed to adhere to a court order – Zuma accused the inquiry and its officials of unfair bias.