--- title: "PHOTO ESSAY: Last working days of Zondo" description: "One of South Africa's most photographed public figures Chief Justice Raymond Zondo hung up his green robes on Wednesday after 27 years on the Bench. Daily Maverick selected images that tell a small part of Justice Zondo's remarkable time on the highest bench." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "CHIEF JUSTICE BOWS OUT" author: "Daily Maverick" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/dailymaverick/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-08-22-photo-essay-last-working-days-of-zondo/" published: "2024-08-22T21:55:24" updated: "2024-08-22T21:55:27" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 384 --- # PHOTO ESSAY: Last working days of Zondo > One of South Africa's most photographed public figures Chief Justice Raymond Zondo hung up his green robes on Wednesday after 27 years on the Bench. Daily Maverick selected images that tell a small part of Justice Zondo's remarkable time on the highest bench. By Daily Maverick · Published 22 August 2024, 23:55 SAST · Updated 22 August 2024, 23:55 SAST ## Key points - Chief Justice Raymond Zondo bids farewell after 27 years of judicial prowess, leaving a legacy as illustrious as his bow ties. - Chief Justice Raymond Zondo retires after 27-year judicial career - Special ceremonial sitting held in his honor at Constitutional Court - President Cyril Ramaphosa receives final State Capture report - Zondo's legacy highlighted as he steps down from the bench ## Content ![Special Ceremonial Sitting Of The Constitutional Court In Honour Of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on August 21, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The comes after Chief Justice Zondo announced his retirement after a judicial career spanning 27 years. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/FqlGMjnWGuJcaZdJ4jeWTsBGWno=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ED_517464.jpg) *Special Ceremonial Sitting of the Constitutional Court in honour Of Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on August 21, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)* ![Chief Justice Raymond Zondo resides over the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairperson of the NCOP as well as the election of the president. 14 June 2024. (Photo : Shelley Christians)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/_lg7QA18frbWxoK4GqmkQWM005E=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-essay-Raymond-Zondo-11.jpg) *Chief Justice Raymond Zondo resides over the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairperson of the NCOP as well as the election of the president. 14 June 2024. (Photo : Shelley Christians)* ![JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 20: Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo during his farewell dinner at Marriot Hotel Melrose Arch on August 20, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The celebratory dinner, attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa was held in tribute to the Chief Justice, who is retiring at the end of August 2024 after a distinguished judicial career spanning 27 years. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/ra44KRnILL25UAS1R-LBiRWI2sE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-essay-Raymond-Zondo-12.jpg) *Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo during his farewell dinner at Marriot Hotel Melrose Arch on August 20, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The celebratory dinner, attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa was held in tribute to the Chief Justice, who is retiring at the end of August 2024 after a distinguished judicial career spanning 27 years. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo)* ![Chief Justice Raymond Zondo administers the oath of office to president Cyril Ramaphosa at the Presidential Inauguration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 29 June 2024.(Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/mfTmD3Eu0xv8gzceu1aXduB7trU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-essay-Raymond-Zondo-10.jpg) *Chief Justice Raymond Zondo administers the oath of office to president Cyril Ramaphosa at the Presidential Inauguration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 29 June 2024. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)* ![President Cyril Ramaphosa receives the fifth and final Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State Report at the Union Buildings on June 22, 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/-hxN2zzNRC3rVK38mzM08p5-P9E=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-essay-Raymond-Zondo-09.jpg) *President Cyril Ramaphosa receives the fifth and final Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State Report at the Union Buildings on June 22, 2022 in Pretoria. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)* ![Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo brief the media on the possible extension of the commission of inquiry into state capture (Photo: Veli Nhlapo/Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/wVN_RztwsxcaTW906ZLKkrv87hU=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-essay-Raymond-Zondo-08.jpg) *Then Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo brief the media on the possible extension of the commission of inquiry into state capture (Photo: Veli Nhlapo/Gallo Images)* ![Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. 28 November 2018. (Photo: Leila Dougan)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/MQuGjRAAsOm0xHgiAnf6S6XLhWo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-essay-Raymond-Zondo-07.jpg) *Then Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. 28 November 2018. (Photo: Leila Dougan)* ![President Cyril Ramaphosa receives the first part of the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture from the Commission’s Chairperson, Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo Tuesday, 4 January 2022, at the Union Buildings. The Commission’s final report will be submitted to the President in three parts. The second part is anticipated to be handed over at the end of January 2022, and the final part at the end of February 2022. (Photo: Alet Pretorius/Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/Waa9Kb13cmARr9kmWPM100y4sz4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-essay-Raymond-Zondo-05.jpg) *President Cyril Ramaphosa receives the first part of the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture from the Commission’s Chairperson, Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo on Tuesday, 4 January 2022, at the Union Buildings. (Photo: Alet Pretorius/Gallo Images)* ![Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo during the announcement of his state capture judicial commission of inquiry investigation team on March 08, 2018 in Midrand, South Africa. Zondo unveiled the six people who will drive the inquiry, saying the desired outcome was to ensure that South Africa never again experienced the state capture it has suffered. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Felix Dlangamandla)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/sxMydpv18TrXuKUOXBYwdB9bXUk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-essay-Raymond-Zondo-03.jpg) *Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo during the announcement of his state capture judicial commission of inquiry investigation team on March 08, 2018 in Midrand Zondo unveiled the six people who will drive the inquiry, saying the desired outcome was to ensure that South Africa never again experienced the state capture it has suffered. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Felix Dlangamandla)* ![Newly appointed Constitutional Court Judge Raymond Zondo on August 17, 2012 in Pretoria, South Africa. Zondo was formerly a Judge President of the Labour Appeal Court. (Photo by Gallo Images / City Press / Herman Verwey)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/1GSU-70om6QADPx_kytVR70X9fk=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-essay-Raymond-Zondo-02.jpg) *Newly appointed Constitutional Court Judge Raymond Zondo on August 17, 2012 in Pretoria, South Africa. Zondo was formerly a Judge President of the Labour Appeal Court. (Photo by Gallo Images / City Press / Herman Verwey)*