‘More than a woman judge’: Maya shuns detractors at CJ interview

Maya is appearing before the Judicial Service Commission on Wednesday as the committee marks day two of its interviews to find Mogoeng Mogoeng’s replacement. 

She’s the second of four candidates to be interviewed after Constitutional Court Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga took the hot seat on Tuesday.

Maya is the only female candidate in a list of four judges vying for the judiciary’s top job - a point that has been emphasised laboriously by JSC panelists.

While she agreed there is a need for transformation in the legal fraternity, Maya told the JSC her capabilities should not hinge on her gender.

“I’m not here because I am a woman. I am here because I am a good woman judge,” she said. 

The same question about South Africa being ready for a female CJ was posed to competitor Mbuyiseli Madlanga on Monday. 

“That question annoys a lot of women actually,” Maya proclaimed. 

“Why are we asking about women as if we are this homogenous, this special group that needs to be done a favour just for you to keep checking if they are ready.

“No, that’s not who women are. We’re as capable as men but I need not say that.”

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Refusing to be identified by only her gender and not merits, Maya told the JSC she would be an advocate for equality. 

If appointed, Maya vowed to address oversight on policies affecting women in the workplace, including a lack of policies on maternity and policies against sexual harassment.

“Linked to gender diversity are concerns that have been raised, among others, advocacy parties that the judiciary cannot achieve gender equality and equity when it does not even have policies that accommodate women’s challenges.

“The reported consequence of this gap are that the few cases that have been reported to the powers that be have not received the attention they deserve because they are treated, if treated at all, as acts of misconduct in inquiries that take forever to finalise,” Maya lamented. 

She also addressed critics that she alleges have made excuses for her not to be appointed the head of the judiciary.

“The first one is a comment I’ve heard that it would not be a good idea to move me from the Supreme Court of Appeal because I’ve done so well there and moving me would likely destabilise the court. 

“I don’t know if that’s supposed to be a compliment but I and other colleagues find it most patronising and even patriarchal maybe ,” Maya said. 

“In my mind, it implies that I lead a bunch of incompetents who would fall in a helpless heap if I left the SCA. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Watch Maya below: