Bail ruling for IPHC leader Mike Sandlana expected on Monday

The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court is expected to deliver its ruling on Monday on the bail application of International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) Jerusalema faction leader Mike Sandlana, following a protracted hearing in which the State accused him of attempting to mislead the court.

Sandlana and his co accused who already out on bail, Vusi Ndala, Pretoria High Court Judge Portia Phahlane and her son, Kagiso face serious charges linked to the alleged bribery of Phahlane in exchange for a favourable judgment in a long-running and highly contested succession dispute within the IPHC.

The State has opposed Sandlana’s release on bail, arguing that it would not be in the interests of justice.

Prosecutors submitted an affidavit by investigating officer Lt-Col Ludi Rolf Schnelle, pointing out Sandlana’s urgent application he attempted to lodge at the Pretoria High Court on 1 December 2025, seeking release on medical grounds. This was done despite his formal bail application already being set down for hearing on 3 December 2025 at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

Schnelle described the move as “disingenuous”, noting that neither the investigating officer nor the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had been served with the papers.

Schnelle told the court that Sandlana had enlisted the support of Dr Aluwani Confidence Sebata, whom the State alleges is a devoted follower of Sandlana and his church, to exaggerate his medical condition.

According to Schnelle, no historical medical records were provided to show that Sandlana suffers from a chronic or life-threatening illness. Schnelle said prison medical facilities were capable of dealing with medical emergencies and that Sandlana had undergone a full medical examination, which revealed asthma, anaemia and back pain, but no serious chronic condition.

Schnelle also highlighted that the attorney who brought the urgent application is Sandlana’s co-accused in a separate fraud case currently before the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court. Both men are out on bail in that matter.

State prosecutor Willem van Zyl argued that the allegations before court were exceptionally serious. “When a judge is accused of taking a bribe, something has gone profoundly wrong,” he said, adding that the State had demonstrated the strength of its case and raised concerns about Sandlana’s conduct, including allegations that he committed further offences while out on bail in other matters.

The defence rejected the State’s version, accusing the investigating officer of relying on hearsay and creating suspicion without a proper factual basis.

The magistrate reserved judgment, which is expected to be handed down on Monday.