Judge president abused his power, tribunal told

AN 'UNDENIABLE' power imbalance exists between the sexual harassment complainant, Andiswa Mengo, and the accused Judge President Selby Mbenenge, which he exploited despite her repeated resistance over a period of about 11 months.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

This was heard at the reconvened Judicial Conduct Tribunal, where oral arguments are being heard relating to Judge President Mbenenge, who faces accusations of sexual harassment after Mengo filed a complaint against him.

Mengo’s counsel, Advocate Nasreen Rajab-Budlender SC, said: “There is an undeniable and clear power imbalance between the complainant and the respondent. He exploited that imbalance to harass the complainant.”

Throughout the Tribunal hearings, the judge president maintained that he had not pressured Mengo and that when his conversations with her via WhatsApp took a “flirtatious” and “sensual” twist, it was his efforts to court her.