South African President Jacob Zuma has appointed Justice Bess Nkabinde acting deputy chief justice following Justice Dikgang Moseneke’s retirement from the position in the Constitutional Court.

“The President has appointed Justice Baaitse “Bess” Nkabinde to act as Deputy Chief Justice until the position is filled. The President wishes acting Deputy Chief Justice Nkabinde all the best in this new role,” the presidency said.

Moseneke bid the judiciary farewell on Friday after serving the highest court in the land for 14 years. He is longest serving deputy chief justice, after serving under three chief justices.

Zuma on Monday thanked Moseneke for his service to the country, from his years as a Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) activist and subsequent arrest at the age of 14.

“Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke rose from almost impossible circumstances as the youngest prisoner on Robben Island through to becoming deputy president of the Pan-Africanist Congress, an astute businessman and pioneer of Black Economic Empowerment, to being one of the country’s finest jurists and esteemed Justice of our Constitutional Court. We thank Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke for his invaluable service to the judiciary and the country,” said Zuma.