Mbenenge insists peeled banana emoji sent to Mengo did not have any sexual connotation
When Mbenenge sent Mengo an emoji of a peeled banana in the middle of what he has admitted were ‘sensual conversations,’ he said it was not meant to depict a male private part.
Eastern Cape Judge President, Selby Mbenenge takes to the witness stand to detail his relationship with his subordinate, Andiswa Mengo on 9 July 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini / Eyewitness News
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC DETAILS OF A SEXUAL NATURE.
JOHANNESBURG - Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge is digging in his heels, denying that he had the intention of conveying a male private part when he sent an emoji of a peeled banana to high court secretary, Andiswa Mengo.
The judge president is being cross-examined before the Judicial Conduct Tribunal in Sandton, Johannesburg, as it investigates allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him.
The senior judge is accused of making unwanted sexual advances towards Mengo between 2021 and 2022.
However, Mbenenge said he enjoyed a flirtatious relationship with the junior staffer.
READ: Mbenenge struggles to account for some of the meanings he attached to emojis he sent to Mengo
When Mbenenge sent Mengo an emoji of a peeled banana in the middle of what he has admitted were "sensual conversations", he said it was not meant to depict a male private part.
Mbenenge on Tuesday testified that he just wanted to give the junior staffer something nice, but could have also added an emoji of anything else.
But evidence leader, advocate Salome Scheepers was not convinced.
"It could have a sexual connotation, I agree, but I'm talking about my understanding of what I was conveying to her. And I grew up in a scenario where I see two people, and I'm talking about myself, sharing a banana. It looks quite juicy to see those people biting and sharing and doing all that."
In May this year, forensic and legal linguist, Dr Zakeera Docrat, testified that the emoji had sexual connotations and was meant to convey the male body part.