GroundUp reports that the inquiry into a sexual harassment complaint against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge commenced on Monday. He is facing possible impeachment for sexually harassing a young secretary, Andiso Mengo, who gave testimony.
All evidence will be heard in public after the Judicial Conduct Tribunal (JCT) reversed a previous ruling that some of the evidence would be held in camera. According to advocate Salomé Scheepers, presenting evidence before the hearing, even on Mbenenge’s own version he was guilty of gross misconduct because he had acknowledged that he “may have been mistaken” and had apologised for his conduct. As the head of judiciary in the province, a married man, and a community and church leader, his admissions showed that his conduct had brought the judiciary into disrepute and was in direct conflict with the code of conduct for judges, Scheepers argued. “It clearly constitutes gross misconduct,” she submitted. In her opening statement, Scheepers said that Mengo had complained that Mbenenge had sexually harassed her between 2021 and 2022 through multiple suggestive messages via WhatsApp, inappropriate comments and gestures regarding her appearance, and a specific incident which had occurred in his chambers. Among the witnesses who would testify were current serving judges who would give evidence on what they had heard or had been told. The JCT panel includes retired judge Bernard Ngoepe as president, retired judge Cynthia Pretorius and advocate Gift Mashaba. The hearing has been set down to proceed until 24 January. Mbenenge, who is on “special leave”, was appointed as Judge President of the Eastern Cape in November 2017.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at GroundUp
- Read too, 'Send me pics': Judge President sexual harassment inquiry told of indecent WhatsApps to secretary, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
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