By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed two new judges to the constitutional court as this is being regarded as a big step for women in law. Ramaphosa appointed Nambitha Dambuza-Mayosi and Katherine Savage to the highest court in the country. 

Their appointments makes the court one of only four women-majority apex courts in the world. Justice Nambitha Dambuza-Mayosi has served at the supreme court of appeal for over a decade since 2015 which includes a brief service as acting judge president and Justice Katherine Savage served in the Western Cape high court bench since 2015 and has also served on the labour appeal court since 2014.

 This marks a significant improvement from 1994 as there were only 2 out of 100 judges who were women at the time and this announcement comes at the 70th anniversary of the women’s march in 1956. 

Ramaphosa has also noted that these judges bring decades of experience and will give their strong commitment to the constitution. The Judges Matter criticise the fact that the wait of the appointment was delayed by 184 days which marked the longest wait in the democratic era.

 “Both Justice Dambuza and Justice Savage will add valuable experience to the Constitutional Court. And we hope that it will address our deep concerns about the decline in performance of our apex court. The two justices will officially join the Constitutional Court on the first of next month” said Mbekezeli Benjamin of the Judges Matter group as he noted the recent decline in performance from the constitutional court.

 The spokesperson of the Presidency, Vincent Magwenya, noted that Ramaphosa made the appointments after consultations with Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and consultations with leaders of political parties within the National Assembly. 

“Justice Dambuza-Mayosi and Judge Savage have for decades served the cause and practice of justice with great diligence, foresight and, most importantly, clear commitment to our constitution” Ramaphosa said.

 “They join the Constitutional Court in the year which marks 30 years since the adoption of our democratic constitution. The anniversary is a significant moment for our nation and serves as an inspiration for our Constitutional Court to sustain the entrenchment of our national values and the supreme law that underpins them” Ramaphosa added.