Xola Mlungisi Petse (born 10 July 1954) is a retired South African judge who was the Deputy President of the Supreme Court of Appeal between 2019 and 2024.
[4] He was viewed as one of the frontrunners, but his interview with the Judicial Service Commission was rigorous and included a prolonged debate with commissioner Fatima Chohan about the separation of powers.
In February 2021, Petse chaired the Judicial Service Commission's interview process in the search for a new Chief Justice; he was one of the few senior judges who was not in the running for the position.
[16][17] Many observers, including Dumisa Ntsebeza and Hugh Corder,[18][19] criticised him for allowing the proceedings to be diverted by inappropriate questions and unsubstantiated allegations.
[20][21][22] In subsequent months, Maya was appointed as Deputy Chief Justice, and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers publicly endorsed Petse to succeed her permanently as Supreme Court President.