Incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace have come under the spotlight in South Africa recently, following the inquiry into sexual harassment claims against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge. The Judge President is facing a misconduct investigation by the Judicial Conduct Tribunal, after a sexual harassment complaint laid against him by judges’ secretary, Andiswa Mengo.
While Mbenenge’s legal team argues that the complainant has misled the hearing by omitting messages in which she reciprocated the sexual advances. Mengo testified that Mbenenge’s sexual advances left her traumatised.‘’It is also evident that the Judge President initiated the conversations and in Mengo’s testimony she indicated how she said no to these advances on numerous occasions, but this did not yield positive results. This matter emphasises the issue of power imbalance, Mbenenge holds the power in this instance’’ says Sonke’s Co-Executive Director Bafana Khumalo.
‘’We are concerned that the legal system fails to recognize the trauma faced by victims or survivors where the focus is on their character than the behaviour of the alleged perpetrator. This is among reasons why many victims often do not come forward to report, thus enabling the culture of silence against power abuse. As Sonke we support unreservedly the complainant, her story is a story of many sexual harassment survivors’’ he adds.
In another case, Former uMkhonto weSizwe Party Mpumalanga convener Mary Phadi recently accused the party’s deputy president John Hlophe of sexual harassment, which is alleged to have occurred during a leadership meeting in August 2024. Phadi has since called for the suspension of the party’s deputy leader. Sonke calls on the leadership of the MKP to ensure that this matter is investigated fairly and transparently.
ENDS/
Issued by Sonke Gender Justice.
For media enquiries contact:
Kgomotso Mophulane, Communications & Strategic Information Manager, Sonke Gender Justice on kgomotso@genderjustice.org.za or 0835196187.
Bafana Khumalo, Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice on bafana@genderjustice.org.za or 082 5784479.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Sonke is a South African-based non-profit organisation working throughout Africa. We believe women and men, girls and boys can work together to resist patriarchy, advocate for gender justice, and achieve gender transformation. For media releases, reports and news visit https://genderjustice.org.za/ and https://genderjustice.org.za/newsletter-signup/
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