Distinguished Chancellor appointment at Unizulu
THE University of Zululand has announced Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, Raymond Mnyamezeli Mlungisi Zondo, as its new Chancellor.
The appointment, valid for a five-year renewable term, will see Justice Zondo act as the titular head of the university with no executive powers.
His formal obligations will, among others, include the conferment of degrees at graduation ceremonies.
In addition to his ceremonial role, the Chancellor will also have an important ambassadorial function, working to raise the university’s profile and advance its interests nationally and internationally.
‘The university is privileged to have a Chancellor of Justice Zondo’s stature and we look forward to having him on board,’ said Unizulu Secretary to Council and Registrar, Dewald van Rensburg.
Justice Zondo was born on 4 May 1960 in Ixopo, where he completed his basic education.
He holds a B.Juris degree from the University of
Zululand; LLB from the then University of Natal (now University of KZN); LLM (cum laude) in Labour Law; LLM with specialisation in Commercial Law, as well as a LLM in Patent Law - all from the University of South Africa.
Justice Zondo served part of his articles of clerkship under the late renowned Victoria Mxenge’s law firm prior to her assassination.
As a result, he ceded his articles of clerkship to Mthembu and Partners and later to Channels Alberton Attorneys.
After admission as an attorney, he served as a partner in a Durban law firm, Mathe and Zondo Incorporated, in which he practised for a number of years.
In 1991 and 1992 he served in two committees of the Commission of Inquiry regarding the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation (also known as the Goldstone Commission), which investigated violence in South Africa during the early 1990s.
In 1994, Justice Zondo was appointed as a member of the Ministerial Task Team tasked with producing a draft Labour Relations Bill for postapartheid South Africa. With certain amendments, the Bill was passed into the Labour Relations Act in 1995.
In 1996 he was appointed as the first Chairman of the Governing Body of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), from which he resigned upon his appointment as a judge.
In November 1997 he was appointed as Judge of the Labour Court; in April/May 1999 appointed as a judge of the then Transvaal Provincial Division of the High Court (now the Gauteng Division of the High Court).
State capture
In May 2000, Justice Zondo was appointed as Judge President of the Labour and Labour Appeal Court for a 10year tenure.
During this time he served in various ad hoc committees established by the heads of courts.
These included a committee chaired by the late Justice
Pius Langa which drew up a document to be used by the Judiciary in dealing with complaints about racism and sexism within the Judiciary.
Justice Zondo also chaired a committee of the heads of court which looked into the use of official languages in courts.
In March 2011 he was honoured by the KwaZuluNatal Legal Forum, which consists of many legal bodies, with an award for his contribution to human rights in South Africa.
On 1 June 2017, Justice Zondo was appointed Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa.
With effect from
1 September 2012, he was appointed as Judge of the Constitutional Court.
Justice Zondo has also published articles and written chapters in three books.
In January 2018 he was appointed by former President Jacob Zuma as the Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of
State.