EC's top judge admits to proposing to be intimate with junior staffer after she suggested having a meeting

JOHANNESBURG - The WhatsApp conversations between Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge and high court secretary, Andiswa Mengo, have again been thrust into the spotlight before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal.

The judge president read through the electronic exchanges between himself and the junior staffer before the fact-finding body in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Mbenenge admitted to proposing to be intimate with Mengo.

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The tribunal is investigating allegations of sexual harassment against the senior judge, after Mengo accused him of making unwanted sexual advances towards her between 2021 and 2022.

On 20 June 2021, high court secretary, Mengo, suggested having a meeting with Mbenenge.

It was at that point when the judge president proposed having sex with the junior staffer.

She responded with scripture in the isiXhosa Bible, with the first word translating to "No".

But what was the judge president’s understanding of this?

This was his submission before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal.

"'You reckon we can be intimate this week because we are here in East London?' She has introduced herself as being in East London. 'You reckon we can be intimate?' Remember, we have been this flirtatious about sensual things previously from either party. This is contextual, and this is my understanding that she was saying let us not be intimate this week. Let's just meet face to face."

Mbenenge added that he respected this and did not pursue being intimate any further.