Tribunal asks complainant why she complimented the judge president she's accused of sex harassment

JOHANNESBURG - The tribunal investigating allegations of sexual assault against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge has probed the complainant on the flattering remarks she offered to the respondent.

In messages that were read out before the judicial body, it was revealed that Andiswa Mengo called the judge president “cute”.

Mengo has accused the top judge of sexual harassment after a series of interactions electronically and in person.

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The interactions allegedly took place between 2021 and 2022.

In 2023, the High Court secretary laid a complaint against her senior.

"You’re cute!" This is what Mengo said to Mbenenge when he sent her an image of himself.

But evidence leader, advocate Salome Scheepers, probes the complainant on why she would respond in such a fashion.

"But in between those two messages of the respondent, there's a message from yourself where you reply to a photo of the JP. Why did you respond in this way?"

Mengo has alleged that the judge president made unwanted sexual advances towards her, a complaint that has warranted this tribunal.

With the assistance of a translator, Mengo sought to explain the compliment she extended to the top judge.

"If I recall very correctly, he was wearing a blue shirt. On that picture, he looked different than what he looks now, in a sense that he didn't have the black blemishes on his face that he has now. He looked a bit younger as well."

After further probing, Mengo said she could not detail the reasons for her response.