The evidence leader in the sexual harassment tribunal suggests Mbenenge’s accuser seemed to be distancing herself via the tone of her responses to his texts
The Eastern Cape judge president denied sending nude photos and argued that text message exchanges with his accuser, Andiswa Mengo, reflected mutual interest, not harassment
The defence focused on challenging the sexual harassment allegations, arguing Selby Mbenenge’s interactions with former court secretary Andiswa Mengo were consensual
Zintle Nkqayi worked as Mbenenge’s secretary from 2020 until she resigned in April 2025, citing bad treatment by colleagues who supported his sexual harassment accuser, Andiswa Mengo
Mbenenge’s counsel Muzi Sikhakhane said his sexual harassment accuser Andiswa Mengo did not fit gender expert Lisa Vetten’s description of a woman who could not stand up for herself
Gender-based violence specialist Lisa Vetten tells a tribunal the complainant used ‘different strategies to communicate reluctance and unwillingness’
A dispute over gender expert Lisa Vetten’s testimony in judicial misconduct has forced the tribunal to postpone, allowing the respondent time to study the evidence summary report
This week’s testimony explored whether Mengo’s WhatsApp replies reflected the careful diplomacy women use to reject senior officials without risking their careers
The judicial conduct tribunal’s outcome could reshape women’s rights, workplace safety and equality in South Africa’s male-dominated judiciary
An independent, rigorous process for investigating complaints of abuse of power of a sexual nature must be set up to provide guidance for tribunal investigations
The judge president has damaged his reputation and by extension that of the wider judiciary
Andiswa Mengo has been accused of being a liar who indulged the judge president’s advances
The Judicial Conduct Tribunal investigating sexual harassment involving the Eastern Cape judge president, Selby Mbenenge, is the first time where the issue of emojis is playing out in a legal matter
Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane submitted that Andiswa Mengo’s responses to sexual advances did not communicate the ‘disgust’ she said she felt
Andiswa Mengo told a tribunal two people intimated to her she was not the first woman to be hounded by the Eastern Cape judge president
The secretary who has accused Eastern Cape judge president Mbenenge of sexual harassment told a judicial conduct tribunal the message left her feeling ‘naked’
The Eastern Cape judge president routinely sent sexual texts until she tried to placate him in the hope he would leave her in peace, Andiswa Mengo told a judicial conduct tribunal