Judge Phahlane and her son out on bail — Here’s what they can’t do

High Court Judge Portia Phahlane, accused of fraud and money laundering, was ordered not to enter the High Court and refrain from interfering with witnesses. 

Phahlane and three others were arrested on Tuesday night by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation ( Hawks). 

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Phahlane, 57, her son Kagiso Phahlane, 32, and Vusi Soli Ndala appeared at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

Phahlane was granted R50,000 bail, her son, Kagiso and Ndala were both granted R10,000 bail. 

The leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church, Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlan, was kept in police custody, and a formal bail application will be heard in a week. 

NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said all four accused are collectively facing 19 counts of corruption.

"It is alleged that between 2021 and 2022, Ndala and Sandlana made payments of about R2.4 million on different occasions to different banking accounts, to and for the benefit of Judge Phahlane, for her to preside over Sandlana’s ongoing civil case at the high court and ultimately rule in his favour."

The NPA said intensive prosecution-led investigations by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team led to the arrest of the four accused between Monday and Tuesday. 

Their bail conditions included not interfering directly or indirectly with the investigations and state witnesses, hand over their passports and any travel documents to the investigation officer by Friday, 28 November 2025, and not apply for new travel documents. 

The NPA said the State did not oppose bail for Judge Phahlane and the two others as they were not deemed a flight risk. 

"However, the State indicated to the court that they intend to oppose the release on bail of Sandlana."

His bail will be heard on December 3, 2025.

The case against the other 3 accused was postponed to 06 March 2026 for further investigations.

IOL News