IPHC
1Min
South Africa
Dec 22, 2025
The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday refused bail to International Pentecostal Holiness Church leader Mike Sandlana, finding that the interests of justice outweigh his right to personal freedom in a case involving alleged judicial bribery.
The Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday refused bail to International Pentecostal Holiness Church leader Mike Sandlana, finding that the interests of justice outweigh his right to personal freedom in a case involving alleged judicial bribery.
The Magistrate ruled that Sandlana had failed to discharge the onus placed on him to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the interests of justice permit his release.
In a detailed judgment, Setshoga said the court was not persuaded by the factors advanced by Sandlana in support of bail, finding that they were undermined by his conduct and the seriousness of the alleged offences.
Sandlana, 64, heads the IPHC’s Jerusalema faction in Brits, North West, and faces corruption charges for allegedly offering bribes to Pretoria High Court judge Portia Phahlane in exchange for a favourable ruling in an IPHC succession dispute. Judge Phahlane, her son Kagiso, and church spokesperson Vusi Ndala were arrested alongside him in November.
The state alleged that during Sandlana’s arrest, violent clashes erupted between police and church supporters, resulting in two officers being assaulted and one disarmed, although the firearm was later recovered. Sandlana denied any involvement in the confrontation, insisting it should not count against him in the bail proceedings.
While acknowledging Sandlana’s health conditions and family responsibilities, including minor children, the court found there was no evidence that correctional services could not manage his medical needs or that his children would be left without care, given his support network within the church.
The magistrate also took into account Sandlana’s past conduct, finding that he had presented false evidence during the bail proceedings and had demonstrated a wanton disregard for the law. The court further noted affidavits from witnesses who alleged that threats had been made against them.
Sandlana has been in custody since his arrest on 26 November 2025. The matter has been postponed to 6 March 2026 for further investigations.
