Tribunal allows gender expert to testify in Mbenenge inquiry

The Judicial Conduct Tribunal has ruled that gender expert Lisa Vetten may testify in the ongoing inquiry into sexual harassment allegations against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge.

The decision follows a request by evidence leader Advocate Salome Scheepers, who indicated on Monday that she was not ready to close her case and that Vetten’s testimony would serve the interests of justice. The request was opposed by Mbenenge’s legal team.

In delivering the ruling, Tribunal Chairperson Retired Judge President Bernard Ngoepe said the tribunal would rather allow the testimony than risk excluding potentially important evidence.

Ngoepe stated: “Having considered the matter properly, we have the view that we should rather err on the side of caution, rather allow evidence, even though there is argument about its relevance, allow it nevertheless to be given. We allow it to be given because we are confident that if it is irrelevant, we’ll be able to hold it accordingly at any time.”

“Even at the end of that particular evidence, we will say it is irrelevant and then we will put it aside. Contrast that with the situation where you exclude evidence, which might well be relevant and material. We think that in that case, we would have erred,” added Ngoepe.

[GRAPHIC CONTENT] Judicial Conduct Tribunal Hearing for Judge President Mbenenge