President Jacob Zuma on Thursday congratulated chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng on his election as president of the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CCJA).

The chief justice was elected to the post on Wednesday during the CCJA’s fourth congress in Cape Town, which was held under the theme ‘Strengthening the independence of the judiciary and respect for the rule of law’.

Zuma said in a statement that Mogoeng’s appointment to the “key continental position” demonstrated “confidence and high regard for South Africa’s judiciary in the continent”.

“This is a great honour for our country which happened on the eve of Freedom Day and just a few days before the beginning of Africa Month,” the statement added.