Messages between Mbenenge, Mengo moved from professional to sexual, tribunal told
The tribunal is probing sexual harassment allegations against the judge president after Mengo accused him of making unwanted sexual advances towards her between 2021 and 2022.
Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge (centre) at the Judicial Conduct Tribunal in Sandton, Johannesburg on 5 May 2025. The tribunal is investigating sexual harassment allegations against him. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Messages between Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge and High Court secretary Andiswa Mengo are said to have moved from a professional tone to a sexual one.
This is the testimony of forensic and legal linguist Dr Zakeera Docrat before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal currently in session in Sandton, Johannesburg.
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The tribunal is probing sexual harassment allegations against the judge president after Mengo accused him of making unwanted sexual advances towards her between 2021 and 2022.
Much of Tuesday morning’s proceedings have been centred on the qualifications of the expert before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal.
Docrat is expected to testify and unpack the meaning of the emojis shared between Mbenenge and Mengo between 2021 and 2022.
During their conversations, emojis of a half-peeled banana and an eggplant were allegedly shared by the senior judge.
But were these just visuals of fruits and vegetables, or was there an intended and more sexual undertone, as alleged by Mengo?
Docrat said context is important, but noticed a change in the tone of the messages exchanged between the two.
“It started off from the text messages right at the beginning in a very professional, courteous, respectful manner. Sometimes on specific days, that's how most of the days started, with a work-related discussion or in a respectful tone and manner. Then it slowly degenerated where emojis were used to either convey sexual acts or indicate sexual emojis, how emojis were used for a sexual nature.”
But the interpretation of emojis is a new discipline, and Docrat’s testimony will be key as the tribunal considers the relationship between Mengo and Mbenenge and the cultural nuances, among others, at play.