Bulelwa Hoala

Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge’s legal team has accused High Court secretary Andiswa Mengo of omitting inappropriate messages she sent to her alleged perpetrator.
During his cross examination before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal on Monday, Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane accused Mengo of presenting misleading evidence to the court.
Sikhakhane argued that Mengo did not not submit her responses to the Judge President’s alleged sexual advances because she wants to portray herself as an innocent person.
“You also sent salacious messages. Is there a reason why you conceal those salacious statements from you? Can I put it to you that the reason is that you did not want those determining the panel point out that you too sent things that are disgusting?,” he asked.
This comes after Mengo laid a formal complaint against Mbenenge accusing him of making unwanted sexual advances towards her.
Mengo alleges that the Judge President sexually harassed her between 2021 and 2022 via a series of suggestive messages and pics via WhatsApp.
She has also detailed an incident where he asked her to suck his penis in his chambers.
Mbenenge was appointed as Judge President of the Eastern Cape in November 2017.
He is currently on special leave.
Should the tribunal find him guilty of committing gross misconduct, it could lead to his impeachment.
The 8th day of the hearing continues at the Southern Sun Hotel Rosebank in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
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