Mbenenge tribunal: Complainant quizzed on explaining herself to EC Judge President

JOHANNESBURG - Counsel for Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge has questioned High Court Secretary Andiswa Mengo on why she needed to explain herself to the senior judge.

On Wednesday, Mengo was cross-examined by advocate Muzi Sikhakhane before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

She alleges the jurist made unwanted sexual advances towards her and even sent crude and explicit images on the social media platform, WhatsApp.

The tribunal is probing the allegations levelled against the judge which could lead to his impeachment.

In July 2021, Mengo uploaded an image on WhatsApp.

When Mbenenge responded to the post, Mengo said the person she referred to was her support structure.

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She explained that it was not a man, laughed and called the top judge "jealous".

This is something Mbenenge's representative, advocate Sikhakhane, pressed Mengo on.

“You will agree with me that this message that you do not reflect in your statement does not demonstrate someone who is unhappy with the conversation.”

“Yes,” replied Mengo.

“Would you agree with me that the word ‘isikhwele’ in this language does not relate to jealousy in general, umona. Isikhwele in this context would be a word used for jealousy between people who are either flirting or in an intimate relationship or romantic relationship?”

This interaction is not contained in Mengo’s original statement before the judicial conduct committee.

Sikhakhane asserts that Mengo deliberately withheld the information to portray herself as innocent.