Mbenenge Tribunal rules gender expert can testify &#x2013 despite Judge President&#x2019s objections

Gender expert can testify before the Judicial Service Commission Tribunal investigating sexual harassment accusations against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge despite his objections.

Nelius Radema/Gallo Images/Foto 24

Retired Judge President Bernard Ngoepe has ruled that gender expert Dr Lisa Vetten can testify before the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Tribunal investigating sexual harassment accusations against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge,despite his objections.

Although Mbenenge’s advocate,Muzi Sikhakhane,questioned the relevance of Vetten’s testimony in determining the truth of High Court secretary Andiswa Mengo’s accusations against the Judge President,the tribunal chairperson,Ngoepe,ruled on Tuesday that such relevance could be determined after her evidence.

It was the tribunal’s view that it was “better to err on the side of caution” in that respect,he said.

The hearing adjourned to allow evidence leader Salome Scheepers and the lawyers representing Mengo and Mbenenge to agree on how the tribunal should proceed.

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More to follow.