Judge Mbenenge: 'I Was Led On!' Harassment Probe Heats Up!
The judicial conduct tribunal investigating sexual harassment allegations against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge has heard dramatic testimony this week. Mbenenge is accused of sexual harassment by court secretary Andiswa Mengo.
Mbenenge Claims He Was 'Led On'
Mbenenge stated before the tribunal that he believes he was “led on” by Mengo. He argued that the central issue is whether his advances were wanted or unwanted, rather than focusing on moral judgments. He emphasized that he never used his position as Judge President in their interactions and that Mengo never rejected his advances.
Focus on Consent, Not Morality
During cross-examination, Mbenenge addressed questions about sexually explicit WhatsApp messages exchanged between him and Mengo. Evidence leader advocate Salome Scheepers questioned why he had asked Mengo to delete these messages, suggesting he realized they were inappropriate. Mbenenge responded that the deletion was a mutual agreement between consenting adults, partly due to his family having access to his phone. He reiterated that the key question is consent, not morality. "The issue here is whether my advances were wanted or unwanted. Let’s stay clear of moral issues. The standard is legal and objective and not based on morality or religious codes," he said.
- Mbenenge maintains his advances were welcome.
- He insists the inquiry should focus on legal standards, not moral opinions.
- The tribunal will reconvene on October 21st to hear oral arguments before making a decision.
Mbenenge has previously admitted to wanting a relationship with Mengo, dismissing the fact that he is married as “irrelevant”. The tribunal's decision will have significant implications for the judiciary in South Africa.