Justice Dunstan Mlambo appointed Deputy Chief Justice

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Justice Dunstan Mlambo as Deputy Chief Justice. The Presidency confirmed this in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

The appointment comes into effect from Friday, 1 August 2025.

Judge Mlambo has since November 2012 served as Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa. He was one of the candidates, alongside Northern Cape Judge President Pule Tlaletsi and Free State Judge President Cagney Musi, who attended the JSC interviews last month.

The JSC recommended Mlambo for the appointment following the interviews.

According to the statement, President Ramaphosa has informed Chief Justice Mandisa Maya in writing that in appointing Justice Mlambo, he considered the views of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the views of political parties represented in the National Assembly.

“The President has also expressed to the Chief Justice his appreciation for the transparent, inclusive and robust process undertaken by the JSC. This process exemplified the commission’s commitment to upholding the nation’s constitutional values. The commission had enhanced the nation’s confidence that the appointment of the Deputy Chief Justice was firmly grounded on merit, fidelity to the constitution and a vision for the continued transformation and strengthening of the Judiciary,” reads the statement in part.

“President Ramaphosa similarly thanks the incoming Deputy Chief Justice Mlambo for stepping forward to assume a new responsibility of critical national importance, and wishes Justice Mlambo well in strengthening the rule of law, enriching jurisprudence and asserting the rights of all citizens,” reads the statement further.

uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) Parliamentary leader John Hlophe, earlier this month, said the party had written to the JSC indicating that the party would not support the recommendation of Judge Mlambo as Deputy Chief Justice.