Following corruption and money-laundering charges, Pretoria High Court Judge Portia Phahlane has been placed on special leave by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya. While suspension proceedings are underway, Maya stated that the action protects the judiciary’s integrity, but Phahlane is still entitled to a fair legal process. Phahlane intends to plead not guilty to the charges, which she claims are the result of a personal vendetta.
The charges allege that between 2021 and 2022, Phahlane received over R2.4 million in payments from International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) leader Michael Sandlana and church spokesperson Vusi Ndala. The alleged bribes were for a favorable ruling in a long-running succession dispute within the IPHC, over which Phahlane presided.
Phahlane was arrested along with her son, Kagiso Phahlane, Sandlana, and Ndala. Through her lawyer, Phahlane stated in court that she plans to plead not guilty to all charges.She believes the allegations stem from a personal vendetta by an aggrieved party in the IPHC case.
Phahlane was granted R50,000 bail on the condition that she not enter the high court premises. Her son and Ndala were also granted bail, while Sandlana was remanded in custody.
The case against Phahlane, her son, and Ndala was postponed to March 6, 2026, for further investigation.
In her statement, Chief Justice Maya emphasized that placing Phahlane on special leave was necessary to protect the integrity of the judiciary amid deeply worrying public perceptions.
Maya stated that while the incident is disturbing, it shows that accountability mechanisms are at work and that no one is above the law.
