Judge Selby Mbenenge tribunal to resume in October! The Judicial Conduct Tribunal investigating Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge has officially adjourned, with proceedings set to reconvene on 21 and 22 October 2025.
The tribunal, which is examining allegations of s.e.xual harassment, concluded its latest session on Thursday after evidence leader Advocate Salome Scheepers completed her cross-examination of the judge.
Allegations and Controversy
Mbenenge is accused of s.e.xually harassing High Court secretary Andiswa Mengo between 2021 and 2022. The judge denies any wrongdoing, insisting the interactions were consensual.
He expressed deep regret that Mengo publicly shared their private WhatsApp messages, which included intimate exchanges, in her status updates—sparking widespread controversy within the Eastern Cape High Court.
Judge Selby Mbenenge
Cancelled Meeting Raises Questions
After the leaked messages stirred concern among judicial staff, Mengo suggested a roundtable discussion with some judges to address the matter. However, Mbenenge chose not to attend the proposed meeting.
“I said I could never, in my sound and sober senses, attend a meeting where I’m going to be confronted with pictures that I say I never transmitted to the complainant,” he testified.
Scheepers challenged this decision, questioning why he didn’t use other avenues to resolve the issue. “That was just a normal question. I don’t know why you are so defensive,” she said. “Why did you cancel it?”
Efforts at Reconciliation Failed
Mbenenge stated that he attempted to contact Mengo directly but found he had been blocked. He then reached out to her close allies in hopes of reconciliation, but those efforts proved unsuccessful.
Next Steps in the Tribunal
With no re-examination from Mbenenge’s legal team, the matter is now paused. When the tribunal reconvenes in October, it will hear oral arguments before reviewing all evidence and determining whether the judge president’s conduct violated judicial ethics.
In other news – Skeem Saam actor Macks Papo proposes live on national radio
Veteran Skeem Saam actor Macks Papo, known for his role as Marothi on the popular SABC1 drama, shocked fans and listeners alike when he proposed to his girlfriend live on Metro FM.
The emotional moment happened on Wednesday, 9 July, during Break Away with Khutso Theledi, with the Naked DJ also present in the studio. The 59-year-old actor told Daily Sun that although he and Ramoraswi Manabile had only been officially dating for a few weeks, he had admired her for over a decade. Read More
