News24 | Mbenenge fights JSC harassment findings to block impeachment

Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge is adamant his sexually loaded WhatsApp exchanges with High Court secretary Andiswa Mengo were consensual, and says the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) finding that he should face impeachment for sexual harassment is unlawful, unfair and irrational.

Mbenenge has launched an application in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to block Parliament from proceeding with the impeachment process and the vote that could strip him of all his judicial benefits, pending a far-reaching legal challenge to the findings against him.

A judicial conduct tribunal, which was headed by retired Judge President Bernhard Ngoepe, endorsed Mbenenge’s argument that his WhatsApp exchanges with then 37-year-old single mother Mengo were consensual and not unwelcome, and found “there was no sexual harassment”.

But the JSC disagreed and found him guilty of impeachable gross misconduct.

The tribunal found him guilty of a lesser misconduct charge, which he is also challenging.

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