Mbenenge defends sending a late-night apology text message to Mengo
The text followed an earlier in-person interaction with Mengo in which he enquired about the junior staffer’s personal life.
Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge gives testimony before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal investigating allegations of sexual harassment laid against him by high court secretary, Andiswa Mengo, on 9 July 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge has defended sending high court secretary, Andiswa Mengo, a late-night text on 8 June 2021.
The text followed an earlier in-person interaction with Mengo in which he enquired about the junior staffer’s personal life.
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Mbenenge said that after reflection, he deemed the questions about Mengo’s child and the father of the child in the presence of the minor inappropriate, and sent her a message.
But evidence leader, Advocate Salome Scheepers, quizzed Mbenenge on why the apology was necessary almost at 7 pm that evening.
She cross-examined the judge president before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal investigating allegations of sexual harassment laid against him by Mengo.
Mbenenge explained what necessitated the late-night message.
"Yoh! I’m a very busy person. When I’m at work, I’m on the fast lane. I had opportunity to reflect on what was happening during the course of the day and in fact, as far as I’m concerned, the way I expressed myself here would have been as good as doing it during the lunch hour or during working hours but upon reflection, this is what I did."