Tribunal investigating sexual harassment claims against EC judge president hears request for Zondo to be subpoenaed

JOHANNESBURG - Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane has made a request to subpoena retired Chief Justice Raymond Zondo before the tribunal investigating sexual harassment allegations against Eastern Cape judge president, Selby Mbenenge.

This is one of the preliminary issues that Sikhakhane, who represents Mbenenge, has raised before the tribunal.

The judicial body is sitting in Rosebank to probe the allegations levelled against the senior judge after a secretary in the division, Andiswa Mengo, laid a sexual harassment complaint against him in 2023.

Sikhakhane has indicated that there were a number of outstanding issues before the tribunal.

Among them was an identity parade and for the recently retired Chief Justice to be supboenaed to appear before the tribunal.

"That also includes the issue necessitated by Ms Moretlwa's recent correspondence that the former CJ, Raymond Zondo, be subpoenaed."

However, the tribunal chairperson, retired Judge President Bernard Ngoepe raised concerns with the timing of the request.

The tribunal president said that the respondent only provided the list of witnesses to be subpoenaed last week after the request was made several months ago.

Ngoepe also failed to understand the request made by Sikhakhane.

"I'm not sure in what context Zondo should be subpoenaed."

The respondent had not made clear under what circumstances Zondo would be subpoenaed.

It's expected that the tribunal will get a clearer indication on the purpose of the request as the hearings continue.