The Pretoria High Court has dismissed the bail appeal of church leader Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana, who faces 19 counts of corruption linked to alleged payments intended to influence a high court judge.
Sandlana (64) is the leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church. His appeal followed an unsuccessful bail application at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 22 December 2025.
Prosecutors allege that between 2021 and 2022, Sandlana made payments totalling approximately R2.4 million into various bank accounts for the benefit of Judge Portia Phahlane. The payments were allegedly made with the intention that she preside over his ongoing civil matter in the high court and rule in his favour.
In his appeal, Sandlana’s legal team argued that the magistrate erred in finding that he failed to satisfy the court that the interests of justice permitted his release. They submitted that his possession of multiple identity documents resulted from attempts to correct administrative errors for which he was not responsible.
The defence further argued that Sandlana was not a flight risk, citing his church, ownership of multiple properties, and strong ties to South Africa.
State advocates Phumla Dwane and Willem van Zyl opposed the appeal. They argued that Sandlana posed a flight risk due to his possession of multiple identity documents and his ability to travel outside the country without using a passport.
The prosecutors further submitted that Sandlana allegedly committed the offences whilst out on bail in another matter before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court.
The high court agreed with the state’s submissions and found that Sandlana failed to satisfy the court that his release on bail would be in the interests of justice.
The matter involving Sandlana and his four co-accused will return to the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 6 March 2026.
The co-accused include Judge Phahlane (57), a high court judge in the Gauteng Division (Pretoria), her son Kagiso Phahlane, and Vusi Soli Ndala. Judge Phahlane was granted R50 000 bail in November 2025 and barred from entering high court premises pending the matter.
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