Four people, including a prominent High Court judge and a leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church, appeared before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court this week on serious corruption charges.
Judge Portia Phahlane (57) who sits at the High Court of South Africa’s Gauteng Division in Pretoria, appeared alongside church leader Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana (64). Also facing charges are Phahlane’s son, Kagiso Phahlane and Vusi Soli Ndala.
All four face a total of 19 corruption charges stemming from alleged events between 2021 and 2022. According to prosecutors, Ndala and Sandlana allegedly made payments of approximately R2.4 million on various occasions to different bank accounts for Phahlane’s benefit.
The state alleges these payments were made to influence Phahlane to preside over Sandlana’s ongoing civil case at the High Court and ultimately rule in his favour.
NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana confirmed that the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team, working closely with prosecutors, arrested the four suspects this week, following intensive investigations.
The court granted bail to three of the four accused, with Phahlane receiving R50,000 bail while her son and Ndala were each granted R10,000 bail. The state indicated they did not oppose bail for these three defendants as they could confirm their addresses and saw no evidence of flight risk.
The court has banned Phahlana from entering High Court premises until further notice or until she successfully applies for an amendment to this condition. This effectively suspends her ability to perform her judicial duties while the case proceeds.
The state opposed Sandlana’s bail application, requesting a postponement for a formal bail hearing. Unlike the other three defendants, prosecutors could not confirm Sandlana’s address and expressed concerns about him being a flight risk.
Sandlana was remanded in custody and will return to court on 3 December for his formal bail hearing.
The case against Phahlane, her son and Ndala has been postponed to 6 March 2026.
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