Ray Zondo


Raymond Mnyamezeli Mlungisi "Ray" Zondo is a South African judge who currently serves as Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa.

Early life

Judge Zondo was educated at St Mary's Seminary in Ixopo, the University of Zululand and the University of Natal, where he completed his LLB. He was admitted as an attorney in 1989 and practised as a partner in Mathe & Zondo Inc.

Judicial career

In 1997 he was appointed a judge of the Labour Court, and in 1999 he was appointed to the Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court. In 2000 he was elevated to Judge President of the Labour Court, a post in which he served for ten years. In 2010 he returned to the Pretoria High Court.
From November 2011 to May 2012, Zondo served as an acting judge of the Constitutional Court. He was permanently appointed with effect from September 2012 and is now considered a key member, with Chris Jafta, of the Court's conservative wing. In June 2017, President Jacob Zuma appointed Zondo to the office of Deputy Chief Justice, succeeding Dikgang Moseneke who retired in 2016.

Commission of Inquiry into State Capture

Shortly after taking office, President Ramaphosa green-lighted an inquiry into allegations of corruption related to the influence that the Gupta family had on the previous Jacob Zuma government, known as the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, stating "This is the year in which we will turn the tide of corruption in our public institutions". Raymond Zondo was appointed the presiding judge for this commission, leading to its popular name as the Zondo Commission. Hearings began on 20 August 2018, and are expected to last for two years.