Mbenenge tribunal: 'Any man who makes sexual advances towards a junior employee is unfit to be a judge' – Dr Mamphela Ramphele
“This man is supposed to be the adult in that court. He's supposed to be the enforcer of the rules and norms and standards of behaviour,” says Dr Mamphela Ramphele.
Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge. Picture: Judges Matter
Bongani Bingwa interviews Dr Mamphela Ramphele, cofounder of ReimagineSA and Chair of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Intellectual Property Trust.
Listen below:
The Judicial Conduct Tribunal is currently hearing allegations of sexual harassment against Judge President Selby Mbenenge of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court.
Ramphele argues that this case reflects how society has lost touch with the core values that define our humanity, particularly the principle of ubuntu.
She compares the power dynamic between Mbenenge and the complainant to a situation where a 12-year-old is left alone with an adult, and the adult engages in sexual activity with her, even though consent was given.
She insists that this is the lens through which we should view the case – this is not a normal relationship, and such behaviour has no place in the workplace.
"This man is supposed to be the adult in that court. He's supposed to be the enforcer of the rules and norms and standards of behaviour."
- Dr Mamphela Ramphele
Ramphele argues that any man who makes sexual advances toward a junior employee is not a fit and proper person to serve as a judge, let alone as a president of a court.
She emphasises that the core issue, beyond whether the complainant consented to the sexual advances, is the underlying reason why Mbenenge made these advances in the first place.
Ramphele concludes that Mbenenge should be removed from his position.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.