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Judicial Service Commission finds Judge President Mbenenge guilty of gross misconduct and sexual harassment

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · · 1189 words · By Marianne Thamm
Power Dynamics Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Judicial Accountability
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What to know about Power Dynamics

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Thursday found Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge guilty of gross misconduct and sexual harassment, overturning an earlier decision by a Judicial Conduct Tribunal that had found Mbenenge guilty of misconduct…

Claims checked 9
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage
Left17%
Center83%
Right0%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Thursday found Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge guilty of gross misconduct and sexual harassment, overturning an earlier decision by a Judicial Conduct Tribunal that had found Mbenenge guilty of misconduct…

Why it matters

The commission said it would make a submission to the Speaker of the National Assembly on its findings.

Common ground

This opens the door to the 64-year-old judge’s possible impeachment, on the eve of his retirement.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-16-judicial-service-commission-f…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 3
help Insufficient Evidence 1
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Claim 1: “Mbenenge was guilty of contravening Section 5.1 of the Code of Judicial Conduct”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of unrelated search results about the town of Selby and botanical gardens; it does not mention the Code of Judicial Conduct.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Selby is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England, 12 miles (19.3 km) south of York on the River Ouse. At the 2021 Census, it had a population of 17,193. The town grew around Selby A…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selby
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 22 hours ago · Our commitment to preserving plant diversity, furthering botanical science, and promoting environmental stewardship ensures that Selby Gardens remains a resilient and vibrant hub for ex…
https://selby.org/
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web search NEUTRAL — One of Yorkshire’s hidden gems, the historic market town of Selby is home to the stunning Abbey and so much more. From Vikings and Romans to royal births and dissolution, from fire and floods to ship …
https://visitnorthyorkshire.com/places/selby
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Claim 2: “Mbenenge’s legal representative, advocate Muzi Sikhakhane”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources identify Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane as the legal representative for Judge Mbenenge.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Muzi Frederick Sikhakhane is South African senior counsel and a practising advocate.In the same year, he joined the South African Student Congress (SASCO) and was elected as the president of the Stude…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzi_Sikhakhane
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web search NEUTRAL — It is then that advocates Muzi Sikhakhane for Mbenenge, and Nasreen Rajab-Budlender for the complainant, court secretary Andiswa Mengo, will argue the case of a lifetime.Sikhakhane, Mbenenge’s legal r…
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-14-mbenenges…
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web search NEUTRAL — Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane representing Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge in sexual harassment complaint tribunal. PICTURE: RSAJUDICIARY.
https://www.businessday.co.za/bd/national/2025-01-21-judge-p…
help
Claim 3: “Section 5.1 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which provides that “A judge must always, and not only in the discharge of official duties, act honourably and in a manner befitting judicial office.””
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for the specific text of Section 5.1 of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
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Claim 4: “initiating and sustaining a “flirtatious” relationship with court secretary Andiswa Mengo”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that Mbenenge initiated a 'flirtatious' or 'romantic' relationship with court secretary Andiswa Mengo.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge was intent on having a “romantic relationship” with judges’ secretary Andiswa Mengo, he said on Tuesday.
https://groundup.org.za/article/i-wanted-a-romantic-relation…
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web search NEUTRAL — The fact that Mbenenge had initiated and conducted a “flirtatious relationship” with Mengo at her place of work and during work hours was also dishonourable, the tribunal found.
https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/opinion/2026-02-06-poin…
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web search NEUTRAL — Eastern Cape High Court Judge President Selby Mbenenge has been found guilty of misconduct for initiating a flirtatious relationship with a junior secretary, Andiswa Mengo.
https://www.kaya959.co.za/news/eastern-cape-judge-found-guil…
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Claim 5: “Mengo complained that she had been sexually harassed by Mbenenge from approximately June 2021 to around November 2022”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that Andiswa Mengo alleged sexual harassment by Mbenenge between June 2021 and November 2022.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mengo alleges that she was sexually harassed by the top Judge via in-person interactions and electronic communication between the period of June 2021 and November 2022.
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/former-friend-of-mengo-tes…
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web search NEUTRAL — The judge’s secretary, Andiswa Mengo, filed the complaint in 2023, accusing Mbenenge of making “unwarranted” sexual advances towards her at work and in WhatsApp conversations from June 2021 until Nove…
https://www.businessday.co.za/bd/national/2025-07-07-its-a-l…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The tribunal is hearing allegations of sexual harassment against Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge. The investigation arises out of a complaint laid against him by Andiswa Mengo, who works a…
https://www.theherald.co.za/opinion/2025-01-21-judge-mbeneng…
info
Claim 6: “the 64-year-old judge”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general dictionary definitions of 'judge' and unrelated news stories; there is no mention of Judge Mbenenge's age.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a judicial panel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judge
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 5 days ago · The meaning of JUDGE is one who makes judgments. How to use judge in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Judge.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judge
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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 28, 2026 · Selah Police say a Yakima County Superior Court judge has issued an arrest warrant for the boy's father, Preston Funderburgh on charges of Homicide by Abuse after authorities found the …
https://newstalkkit.com/selah-father-arrested/
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Claim 7: “overturning an earlier decision by a Judicial Conduct Tribunal that had found Mbenenge guilty of misconduct not amounting to gross misconduct”
CORROBORATED
The evidence explicitly states that the JSC overturned a previous tribunal finding that had labeled his behavior as 'simple' misconduct (misconduct not amounting to gross misconduct).
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The judiciary is the system of courts that applies the law and contracts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judiciary
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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · The meaning of JUDICIAL is of or relating to a judgment, the function of judging, the administration of justice, or the judiciary. How to use judicial in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judicial
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web search NEUTRAL — JUDICIAL definition: pertaining to judgment in courts of justice or to the administration of justice. See examples of judicial used in a sentence.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/judicial
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Claim 8: “The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Thursday found Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge guilty of gross misconduct and sexual harassment”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm that the JSC found Judge President Selby Mbenenge guilty of gross misconduct, overturning a previous tribunal decision.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has found Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge guilty of gross misconduct...
https://groundup.org.za/article/jsc-overturns-tribunal-decis…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A Judicial Service Commission (JSC) tribunal has found Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge not guilty of gross misconduct or sexual harassment.
https://www.businessday.co.za/news/law/2026-01-31-tribunal-c…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has found Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge guilty of gross misconduct, overturning a previous tribunal finding that had labelled his behavior as “simpl…
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/judge-president-mbenenge-guil…
info
Claim 9: “retired judge Bernard Ngoepe, who chaired the tribunal”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general dictionary definitions of 'retired'; there is no mention of Bernard Ngoepe chairing the tribunal.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · The meaning of RETIRED is secluded. How to use retired in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retired
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web search NEUTRAL — RETIRED definition: 1. If someone is retired, they have stopped working permanently, usually because of age: 2. If…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/retired
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web search NEUTRAL — A retired person is an older person who has left his or her job and has usually stopped working completely. ...a seventy-three-year-old retired teacher from Florida.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/reti…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.