Judicial Tribunal to probe sexual harassment complaint against a high-profile Judge

[Nat Quinn]

 

Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge allegedly sent a secretary in the division a photo of his genitalia, followed by messages suggesting fellatio, she told a judicial conduct tribunal on Wednesday.

Andiswa Mengo told the tribunal, headed by retired Gauteng judge president Bernard Ngoepe, she believed Mbenenge was trying to groom her, and that his myriad inappropriate messages left her feeling “like a cheap woman”.

The alleged picture in question, which was subsequently deleted, was sent on the evening of 17 June 2021. Mbenenge, the first senior judge in the country to risk impeachment for sexual misconduct, has denied sending the image.

Mengo told the tribunal it showed “his private part with hair exactly the same colour of his hair on his head”.

She added that it clearly appeared to have been taken in a toilet cubicle. No face was visible in the picture.

Within the space of a minute, Mbenenge sent a message that read “BJ=?”.

Mengo told evidence leader Salome Scheepers she did not reply to the message, which she understood to be shorthand for “a blow job”.

Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge allegedly sent a secretary in the division a photo of his genitalia, followed by messages suggesting fellatio, she told a judicial conduct tribunal on Wednesday.

Andiswa Mengo told the tribunal, headed by retired Gauteng judge president Bernard Ngoepe, she believed Mbenenge was trying to groom her, and that his myriad inappropriate messages left her feeling “like a cheap woman”.

The alleged picture in question, which was subsequently deleted, was sent on the evening of 17 June 2021. Mbenenge, the first senior judge in the country to risk impeachment for sexual misconduct, has denied sending the image.

Mengo told the tribunal it showed “his private part with hair exactly the same colour of his hair on his head”.

She added that it clearly appeared to have been taken in a toilet cubicle. No face was visible in the picture.

Within the space of a minute, Mbenenge sent a message that read “BJ=?”.

Mengo told evidence leader Salome Scheepers she did not reply to the message, which she understood to be shorthand for “a blow job”.

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