Mandisa Maya

Mandisa Muriel Lindelwa Maya (born March 20, 1964) is the first South African female jurist who has served as President of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa (SCA) since 26 May 2017. She had previously served as a judge in the Mthatha High Court, as a puisne judge of the SCA and as Deputy President of the SCA, as well as holding acting positions in various courts.

Mandisa has worked in numerous courts and positions throughout her career, namely: Dazana Mafungo Inc. in Mthatha as an attorney's clerk (1987-1988); The Magistrate's Court, Mthatha as the Court Interpreter and Prosecutor (1988-1989); Woman's Legal Defense Fund, in Washington DC as a Legal Policy Counsel and Lobbyist; an assistant State Law Adviser, Mthatha (1991-1993), the Johannesburg Bar as a Puillage (1993); the University of Transkei where she worked as a Law Lecturer (1993-1995); the Transkei Bar as a Practicing Advocate (1994-1999); Cape High Court in Mthatha High Court as an Acting Judge (1999); The Mthatha High Court as a judge (2000); Labour Court in Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Bisho High Court as an Acting Judge; the Supreme Court of Appeal as an Acting Judge (2005); and the Supreme Court of Appeal as a Judge of Appeal (2006).

Mandisa Maya matriculated from St John's College, Mthatha and went on to obtain three degrees in law from the universities of the Transkei, the University of Natal and the Duke University in the United States from the years 1986 to 1990.