| Supreme Court of Appeal | |
|---|---|
List
| |
 Building of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein | |
 Interactive map of Supreme Court of Appeal | |
| 29°06′55″S26°12′59″E / 29.1154°S 26.2163°E /-29.1154; 26.2163 | |
| Established | 1910(Appellate Division) |
| Jurisdiction | South Africa |
| Location | Bloemfontein |
| Coordinates | 29°06′55″S26°12′59″E / 29.1154°S 26.2163°E /-29.1154; 26.2163 |
| Composition method | Presidential appointment on the advice of theJudicial Service Commission |
| Authorised by | Chapter 8 of theConstitution;Superior Courts Act, 2013 |
| Appeals to | Constitutional Court |
| Number of positions | 25 |
| Website | www |
| President | |
| Currently | Mahube Molemela |
| Since | 1 June 2023 |
| Deputy President | |
| Currently | Dumisani Zondi |
| Since | 10 July 2024 |
| Part ofa series on the |
| Politics of South Africa |
|---|
 |
 South Africa portal |
TheSupreme Court of Appeal (SCA), formerly known as theAppellate Division, is the second-highestcourt of appeal inSouth Africa below theConstitutional Court. The country's apex court from 1910 to 1994, it no longer holds that position, having been displaced in constitutional matters by the Constitutional Court in 1994, and inall matters by 2013. It is located inBloemfontein. Bloemfontein is often seen as, and has been traditionally referred to as, the "judicial capital" of South Africa because of the court, although the Constitutional Court is based in Johannesburg.[1][2]
On the creation of theUnion of South Africa from four British colonies in 1910, the supreme courts of the colonies became provincial divisions of the newSupreme Court of South Africa, and the Appellate Division was created as a purely appellate court superior to the provincial divisions. It was the seat of some of the country's most outstanding judges, includingInnes CJ,Watermeyer CJ,Galgut JA,Wessels CJ andSchreiner JA.
In 1994 theConstitutional Court of South Africa was created with jurisdiction superior to the Appellate Division, but it could hear only in constitutional matters. The Appellate Division, therefore, remained the highest court in non-constitutional matters. In 1997 the Appellate Division became the Supreme Court of Appeal and was given constitutional jurisdiction, though the system of twoapex courts remained: the Constitutional Court was the country's highest court in constitutional matters, but the SCA was the highest court in non-constitutional matters. However, the Constitutional Court took a broad reading of its jurisdiction, and in August 2013 the position was regularised by anamendment to theSouth African Constitution which gave the Constitutional Courtgeneral jurisdiction.
The court is composed of a President, a Deputy President, and the number of ordinary Judges of Appeal determined in terms of an Act of Parliament; at present there are 23 ordinary positions on the court.[3] Cases before the court are generally heard by panels of five judges.
Judges are appointed by thePresident of South Africa on the advice of theJudicial Service Commission. Judges of Appeal are cited in judgments with the surname of the judge followed by "JA". (The President and Deputy President are cited with a "P" and "DP" respectively, and acting judges are cited with "AJA".)
As of July 2024[update], the Judges of Appeal were:[4]
| Presidents of the Supreme Court of Appeal | ||
|---|---|---|
| № | Incumbent | Tenure |
| – | J. J. F. Hefer(acting) | 2002 – 2003 |
| 1. | C. T. Howie | 2003 – 2008 |
| 2. | L. Mpati | 2008 – 2016 |
| 3. | M. M. L. Maya | 2016 – 2022 |
| – | X. M. Petse(acting) | 2022 – 2023 |
| 4. | M. B. Molemela | 2023 – present |
| Deputy presidents of the Supreme Court of Appeal | ||
|---|---|---|
| № | Incumbent | Tenure |
| 1. | L. Mpati | 2003 – 2008 |
| 2. | L. T. C. Harms | 2008 – 2011 |
| 3. | K. K. Mthiyane | 2012 – 2014 |
| – | M. S. Navsa(acting) | 2015 – 2015 |
| 4. | M. M. L. Maya | 2015 – 2017 |
| – | J. B. Z. Shongwe(acting) | 2017 – 2018 |
| 5. | X. M. Petse | 2019 – 2024 |
| – | N. Dambuza(acting) | 2022 – 2023 |
| 6. | D. Zondi | 2024 – present |
This is a list of all the judges who have served in the Supreme Court of Appeal since its inception in 1997.[5]
Appointments to the Appellate Division:
The following judges were appointed to the Appellate Division but continued to serve on the bench in the Supreme Court of Appeal after 1997.
Appointments by PresidentNelson Mandela:
Appointments by PresidentThabo Mbeki:
Appointments by PresidentKgalema Motlanthe:
Appointments by PresidentJacob Zuma:
Appointments by PresidentCyril Ramaphosa:
Capitals...Bloemfontein (judicial)
| Appellate courts |  | |
|---|---|---|
| High Court divisions | ||
| Lower courts | ||
| Specialist courts | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
