Mbenenge tribunal: Expert witness says Mengo attempted to avoid alleged explicit dialogue
In 2023, High Court secretary Andiswa Mengo filed a complaint against the top judge, accusing him of making unwanted sexual advances towards her.
The Judicial Conduct Tribunal during the hearings into the sexual harassment allegations against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The judicial conduct tribunal probing allegations of sexual harassment against Eastern Cape Judge President, Selby Mbenenge, continues to hear testimonies from expert witnesses.
This marks the third day of hearings by the judicial body into the conduct of the judge president.
In 2023, High Court secretary Andiswa Mengo filed a complaint against the top judge, accusing him of making unwanted sexual advances towards her.
Now the probe into his conduct will investigate these claims in the first of ever matter in which a judge has been openly accused of sexual harassment.
The tribunal has heard that Mengo used laughing emojis to brush off Mbenenge when he initiated sexual conversations with her.
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Forensic and legal linguist, Dr Zakeera Docrat, says this was Mengo's attempt to avoid the alleged explicit dialogue she was being drawn into.
“She was trying to change the tone of the conversation, change it into another direction.”
But could this be seen to mean that Mengo was in agreement?
Mengo's counsel, Advocate Nasreen Rajab-Budlender probed Docrat on the matter.
“Would it be fair to say that sometimes that sequence of emojis could denote a discomfort on the part of the complainant?”
Docrat stressed that there was no thumbs up indicating that she agreed when she was allegedly sent the messages with sexual undertones.
She's expected back in the witness stand on Wednesday.