WATCH | Ramaphosa moves to free judiciary from government control

Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the judiciary in South Africa will soon become fully independent, including financial autonomy, ending its reliance on the government.

This follows concerns raised by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and other senior judges about the judiciary’s dependence on the Department of Justice for key matters like budget approvals and staff appointments.

Speaking at the Constitutional Court’s 30th anniversary, Ramaphosa said a joint committee has been established to finalise the process, marking a significant shift in South Africa’s constitutional setup.

[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that the government is raising money for the independence of the judiciary from the Treasury. He says this will enable the judiciary to control its administration, training and infrastructure projects with ease.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/TPyBr3XLxV

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 20, 2025

The judiciary will now manage its own affairs and receive its budget directly from the Treasury, putting it on equal footing with the executive and the legislature.

“A joint committee is now in action to finalise this whole process of the independence of the judiciary. It has been an anomaly of our constitutional architecture that we’ve had parliament as an independent institution in our constitution fully and properly recognised, and the executive — but the judiciary has on an unfair basis had to depend on government on a variety of matters from getting approval on the appointment of people and not even being in complete control of their own budget,” Ramaphosa said.

[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that a joint committee is finalising the process of the independence of SA judiciary. He was delivering a keynote address at the 30-year anniversary of the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. pic.twitter.com/ukDGYHDE3a

— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 20, 2025

“This comes to an end now. The judiciary will be independent. We will ensure the judiciary is rightly constituted as an equal branch of the state, same level as the executive and the legislature.”

The move aims to strengthen the principle of the separation of powers and allow the judiciary to function without interference.

Compiled by Betha Madhomu