Mbenenge's legal counsel disputes Mengo's claims she wanted to reject his advances

JOHANNESBURG - The legal counsel representing Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge has disputed claims that High Court secretary, Andiswa Mengo, wanted to tell the top judge that she was not interested in his advances.

Four years ago, Mengo requested a meeting with the top judge and claims she did this to reject him.  

But the meeting between the pair did not take place.

Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane cross-examined Mengo before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal on Wednesday. 

It is tasked with investigating sexual harassment allegations levelled by Mengo against the senior judge.

He probed the complainant on her proposal for a meeting.

When Mengo told Mbenenge that she was in East London in June 2021, the senior judge asked her if they could be intimate.

Mengo claims that she was uninterested and sent the judge, who is also a church leader, scripture emanating from the isiXhosa Bible.

The first word in the verse is "No".

Mengo said she was intent on meeting the judge president to reject his advances in a face-to-face meeting.

Sikhakhane, however, accused the witness of being dishonest and said that she could have relayed the message over texts.

"So ma’am, is it unreasonable to assume that you could have, now, at least not even face-to-face, told him to get lost. Right here. I'm putting it to you, ma’am, that you are not telling the truth, that you wanted to tell him anything of the sort you say you wanted, that you object to his (speeches?) you were in good terms at this point."

Sikhakhane added that Mengo had sent the judge a message reading "Happy Fathers Day, Jola" referring to him with his clan name, something often seen as a form of endearment.

Mengo disputed the claim that she did not have the intention to reject him simply because they were on good terms.