I didn’t have courage to tell Mbenenge to stop: Mengo

Complainant Andiswa Mengo testifies at the Judicial Conduct Tribunal probing sexual harassment allegations against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge on January 17, 2025.

3 minutes

Judges’ Secretary, Andiswa Mengo, has told the Judicial Conduct Tribunal tasked with probing sexual harassment allegations against Judge President Selby Mbenenge that she did not have the courage to tell him to stop sending her messages at the time.

Mengo has accused Mbenenge of sexual harassment in the form of in-person interaction and electronic communication.

Her cross-examination will continue this morning in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

Yesterday, Mbenenge’s counsel Adv. Muzi Sikhakhane SC grilled Mengo on her decision to send the judge a bible verse on the day of the incident.

Sikhakhane: It is the same day that you’ve related in this complaint, this very complaint that you were tired, you were annoyed at what he had done to you, you wanted it to come to an end?

Mengo: Yes.

Sikhakhane: Instead of using that courage to tell him in no uncertain terms, you sent a bible verse?

Mengo: Yes, I sent him a bible verse.

Sikhakhane: You do agree with me as much as what you meant is what you testified you meant, it was possible for the recipient of your verse or your suggestion of the verse not to understand the message you were conveying…It is possible when you use a parable or bible verse to convey that you are sick and tired of somebody, without saying so. It is possible for that person not to get the message if you sent a bible verse or a parable?

Mengo: I won’t be able to respond on his behalf.

Sikhakhane: When you send a parable or a bible verse, a person can misinterpret it?

Mengo: I’m disputing that.

Sikhakhane: I’m putting it to you that you are not telling the truth that you wanted to tell him anything of the sort you wanted, that you object to his messages and texts, you were in good terms at this point?

Mengo: That is not true. We got along, I agree, but it is not true to say that I was quite fine with the texting and the things he kept on saying that I did not like and in particular this verse I’ve quoted, it has a big high, which is a no, written in big capital letters.

Sikhakhane: Mam, I put it to you as I did, you could have told the respondent to stop because you had amassed the courage to do so.

Mengo: I did not have the courage at the time.