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Mbenenge to face the grill on Monday 

todayJuly 4, 2025 49

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Photo Credit: X/@OCJ_RSA
Eastern Cape Judge President, Selby Mbenenge, is set to finally testify before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal on Monday, where he will respond to explosive allegations of sexual misconduct brought by his former junior staffer, Andiswa Mengo.
His appearance comes after a dramatic day in the tribunal on Friday, when proceedings were unexpectedly disrupted and his third witness, Unathi Sogoni, was unable to complete her testimony due to procedural disputes.
He stands accused of sexually harassing Mengo between 2021 and 2022 — allegations he strongly denies. He maintains that their interactions were entirely consensual.
In her testimony, Mengo alleged that Mbenenge sent her sexually explicit messages and images during her time working under him.
Presiding over the tribunal, retired Judge Bernard Ngoepe supported the proposal for Mbenenge to take the stand on Monday.
“We would like to finish the evidence, all the evidence by Thursday and to that end, we would like to suggest that we start at 9:30am and then sit until 4:30pm each day,” said Ngoepe.
Attention now shifts to how Mbenenge will respond to the evidence already on record — and whether his testimony will shift the direction of the tribunal.
Earlier on Friday, tensions escalated when power dynamics within the workplace became a flashpoint during Sogoni’s attempted testimony, the final witness brought forward by Mbenenge’s legal team.
Advocate Griffits Madonsela, representing Mbenenge, raised objections after the tribunal ruled that Sogoni’s testimony must focus only on the nature of the relationship between Mbenenge and Mengo and not include commentary on power relations.
Madonsela called the restriction unfair, particularly since the complainant’s team had already led evidence on the topic through gender-based violence expert, Lisa Vetten.
“Chair, this Lisa Vetten came here and theorised based on WhatsApp exchange that the complainant was a child secretary facing father judge, how can it not be relevant to that topic?” Madonsela argued.
“To lead evidence that deals directly with how Miss Mengo understood the relationship that she should have or can have with the father judge.”
He further criticised the tribunal’s earlier decision to bar advocate Muzi Skhakhane – also part of Mbenenge’s team — from addressing power dynamics because he was deemed not to be an expert, suggesting a double standard in the way the testimony was being handled.
As the tribunal prepares to hear directly from Mbenenge, the stakes have never been higher in a case that continues to expose deep legal and ethical tensions within South Africa’s judiciary. Written by Lebohang Ndashe

Written by: Lindiwe Mabena

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