A forensic and legal linguist has told the Judicial Conduct Tribunal that text message exchanges between Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge and Judges’ Secretary Andiswa Mengo began professionally but gradually took on a sexually suggestive tone through the use of emojis.
Dr Zakeera Docrat, who is providing expert testimony in the ongoing tribunal probing allegations of sexual harassment against Mbenenge, analysed the content and evolution of the messages between the two.
“It started off from the text messages right at the beginning in a very professional, courteous, respectful manner," Docrat told the tribunal. "Sometimes on specific days, that’s how most of the days started, with a work-related discussion or in a respectful tone and manner—and then it slowly degenerated, where emojis were used to either convey sexual acts or indicate sexual nature."
The tribunal continues to hear evidence as it investigates the conduct of the judge president, who is accused of inappropriate behaviour towards Mengo.