Cape Town — The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has said that claims of a relationship between Mandisa Maya and former president, Jacob Zuma, are unfounded and untrue.
“The OCJ was made aware of an article published by Opera News that was titled: “He is like a father to me and a father to my children: Maya praises Zuma after her appointment” which claims that Zuma and Maya share a close, personal relationship”, a statement read.
The article claims that Maya expressed gratitude towards Zuma following her appointment as Chief Justice, highlighting their deep personal and professional relationship. However, it does not provide a source for this information.
“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 statement read.
Media Statement – Claims of a ‘deep’ relationship between Chief Justice Designate M M L Maya and former President Zuma unfounded and false. pic.twitter.com/zCFrD0iLV2
— RSAJudiciary (@OCJ_RSA) July 28, 2024
The office said the article purports to refer to a statement made by Maya at the time she was recommended and appointed to the position of President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) by former President Zuma in 2017.
The article reported that Maya praised Zuma for the courage and farsightedness of the person who nominated her, which was President Zuma who “does not know me from a bar of soap”, she was reported as saying.
The OCJ said in another interview with the SABC at the time of her recommendation for appointment as President of the SCA, Maya stated unequivocally that former president Zuma nominated her without knowing her personally. The OCJ also called for Opera News to remove the article and issue an apology to Maya.
“The OCJ demands that Opera News immediately removes the article in question from their platform, as well as cease and desist from making these false statements against the Chief Justice Designate in any 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 concluded.
Here is a video of Chief Justice Mandisa Maya praising Former President Jacob Zuma for his courage and farsightedness when he appointed her as the first woman President of the Supreme Court of Appeal. pic.twitter.com/tQQazmr2wP
— Sharné Zoë (@Zoe_SZi) July 25, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
