Mbenenge apologises to SA for his 'clandestine chats' with Mengo becoming 'a public spectacle'
The judge president said he was embarrassed that exchanges that were meant to be private had now become the subject of public scrutiny.
Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge on the witness stand at the Judicial Conduct Tribunal probing allegations of misconduct against him on 8 July 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge has tendered an apology to South Africans following the exposure of his interactions with high court secretary, Andiswa Mengo, on messaging service, WhatsApp.
The judge president said he was embarrassed that exchanges that were meant to be private had now become the subject of public scrutiny.
He is testifying before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal sitting in Sandton, Johannesburg, as the misconduct probe against him continues.
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The senior judge is accused of making unwanted sexual advances towards Mengo between 2021 and 2022.
However, the judge denied this vehemently and said that he had a mutually flirtatious relationship with the complainant.
This Mbenenge does not apologise for but said he owed it to the citizens of the nation to tender an apology.
"It is embarrassing to me. I regret that it happened and I can only apologise to South African citizens insofar as they have become privy to embarrassing chats. It's got nothing to do with saying I am sorry that I had chats. I am simply saying that I am embarrassed that clandestine chats have become a public spectacle. They are embarrassing to South Africans and I owe it to them to say I'm sorry that these things have found their way into the public domain."