Johannesburg – The Judicial Service Commission has advised the President to suspend Eastern Cape High Court Judge President Selby Mbenenge from his duties pending the decision of the National Assembly.
Sixty-five-year-old Judge President Mbenenge is accused of gross misconduct and sexual harassment, following allegations that he pursued an inappropriate relationship with a junior court employee, Andiswa Mengo, between June 2021 and November 2022.
In a terse statement announcing the move on Monday, 27 July 2026, the JSC detailed events leading to its decision to recommend that Judge President Mbenenge be suspended.
The statement said that on 7 July 2026, the JSC, excluding the members designated by the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, held a meeting to consider written submissions from the parties on whether the JSC should advise the President to suspend Judge President Mbenenge.
“At this meeting, the JSC resolved to advise the President to suspend Judge President Mbenenge from his duties pending the decision of the National Assembly as contemplated in section 177 of the Constitution,” the statement said.
