The Office of the Chief Justice has denied accusations that Chief Justice Designate Mandisa Maya and former President Jacob Zuma had a ‘close friendship.’
According to an Opera News report, Maya and Zuma had a tight relationship.
In a statement, the OCJ also urged the web platform to retract the piece.
“The OCJ asks that Opera News immediately remove the aforementioned article from their platform, as well as cease and desist from propagating similar incorrect comments against the Chief Justice Designate in future articles.
“The OCJ further demands that Opera News issues a public apology to the Chief Justice Designate for publishing false statements about her,” the office said in a statement on Sunday.
The article states: “In a heartfelt tribute, Maya has expressed profound gratitude towards former President Zuma following her recent appointment.“
It further claimed that Maya described Zuma as a brother to her and a father to her children and paid homage to him for the professional impact he has had on her life.
“The OCJ wishes to place it on record that the Chief Justice Designate, who has never met or had any contact with former President Zuma, has never made such a statement and any suggestion that the Chief Justice Designate has a ‘deep personal and professional’ relationship with the former President is unfounded, false and refuted,” the OCJ statement read.
The OCJ stated that the item purports to refer to a comment made by Maya when she was recommended and appointed as President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) by former President Zuma in 2017.
The OCJ explained that, in response to a related, direct question during her public interview with the Judicial Service Commission, Maya expressed admiration for Zuma’s daring and foresight in nominating her despite not knowing her.
In another interview with the SABC, the OCJ declared definitely that former President Zuma nominated her as President of the SCA despite not knowing her personally.
Maya was appointed as the new Chief Justice. Maya is the nation’s first female chief justice. Maya will return to her role on September 1, succeeding Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, whose term ends on August 31.
