IPHC leader Michael Sandlana returns to court for bail in a high-profile corruption case
Thousands of IPHC members during a previous march at SAPS headquarters in Pretoria.
Image: Oupa Mokoena/ Independent Media
Michael Sandlana, a prominent leader of the popular International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC), is expected to return to the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today for his bail application as the high-profile corruption case involving him and Gauteng High Court Judge Portia Phahlane intensifies.
Sandlana, popularly referred to as Tau among his followers, is charged alongside Judge Phahlane, her son Thato, and IPHC spokesperson Vusi Soli Ndala. The four face 19 counts of corruption and money laundering.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, between 2021 and 2022 payments amounting to about R2.4 million were allegedly made “to and for the benefit” of Judge Phahlane. Prosecutors claim the payments were intended to secure favourable treatment for Sandlana in the court case arising from the IPHC’s long-running succession dispute.
IPHC leader Michael Sandlana
Image: File
During their previous appearance, Phahlane was granted R50,000 bail, while her son and Ndala were each granted R10,000. Sandlana remained in custody after the State indicated it would oppose his release, prompting the postponement of his bail hearing to today.
Sandlana's legal team is expected to argue that he poses no flight risk and has strong community ties through the vast church. The State is likely to maintain that the charges are severe, involve significant financial flows, and raise concerns about possible interference.
Independent Media has previously reported that the allegations have placed scrutiny on judicial operations in Gauteng, with the division confirming that all matters previously assigned to Phahlane will be reallocated while she completes any outstanding judgments.
Today’s proceedings are expected to attract strong interest from IPHC members. Sandlana is regarded as a key figure in the factional battle that has shaped the church’s leadership landscape for nearly a decade.
The outcome of his bail application will influence both the trajectory of the criminal case and internal dynamics within one of South Africa’s largest religious movements.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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