Advocates For Transformation (AFT) has welcomed the appointment of former Gauteng Judge President Dunstan Mlambo as Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa, describing it as a “moment of deep national significance”.

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa gave the final nod to the top Judge with effect from the 1st of August 2025.

The AFT, which is committed to the transformation of the advocates’ profession and the judiciary in SA, says that Justice Mlambo’s rise is not an individual rise in glory, but a collective triumph for all who believe in transformation.

The body further notes that  Deputy Chief Justice Mlambo’s leadership comes at a pivotal moment when the apex court faces a trust deficit from sectors of society and that the top Judge brings the steadiness, insight and legitimacy required for this moment.

Meanwhile, the judicial watchdog Judges Matter says President Ramaphosa’s appointment of Justice Dunstan Mlambo as the Deputy Chief Justice will benefit the judiciary.

The position has been vacant since Chief Justice Mandisa Maya assumed her role at the apex of the judiciary in September last year.

Judge Mlambo served as Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa from November 2012.

Judges Matter researcher, Mbekezeli Benjamin, says Mlambo’s experience will add value to the judiciary.

“We welcome the appointment of Judge Mlambo as Deputy Chief justice. He comes with a lot of experience in the Judiciary, especially in the management and leadership level. We are hoping that in his new position he will be able to bring that experience to solve some of the big problems in the judiciary including how slow the cases are moving through the court system and the infrastructure at the different courts across the country. We are hopeful that he will work with Chief Justice Maya to lead the judiciary for the future,” he says.

Dunstan Mlambo | Leadership credentials & Past judgements: Elton Hart