By AGISANANG SCUFF
25 December 2025- The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court denied bail to a leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana (64). His co-accused, a Judge of the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria Judge, Portia Phahlane (57), her son Kagiso Phahlane (32) and Vusi Soli Ndala (49), were granted bail.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana said all four accused are collectively facing 19 counts of corruption. Mahanjana said 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 Phahlane, in order for her to preside over Sandlana’s ongoing civil case at the high court and ultimately rule in his favour.
“After intensive prosecution-led investigations by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team led to the arrest of the four accused persons on 25 and 26 November 2025.
“In court, during the bail application, Sandlana, through his legal representative, asked to be released on bail claiming that the state does not have a strong case against him and that he cooperated with the police because he handed himself over,” she said.
Mahanjana said furthermore, Sandlana told the court that he has nine children, three of whom are minors that he is taking care of and that he is leading an NGO named Michael Sandlana Foundation that is currently helping to fund 22 students studying at a Russian University and also provides education and housing to the less fortunate across South Africa and SADC regions.
She added that he said that he had knowledge of an alleged scuffle between his security and the police at his church premises on the night of his arrest, however he was not present at his premises.
“He said that he suffers from a life-threatening chronic ailment, he does not have any previous convictions as they have been expunged and that he is currently on trial in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, where he is facing charges of fraud.
“However, the state opposed his release on bail and read into the record an affidavit by the Investigating Officer stating that the accused filed an urgent motion application to the Pretoria High Court on 1 December 2025, requesting to be released on bail due to his medical condition,” said Mahanjana.
She said the state further argued that after Sandlana committed these offenses while on bail on an unrelated matter at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, where he is downplaying his involvement in the matter which then shows the court that his release on bail will not stop him from committing other offences. Mahanjana said it was said that Sandlana has changed his ID number thrice, blaming it on the Department of Home Affairs and has two birth certificates that were tempered with.
“In addition, the state mentioned that Sandlana submitted two different addresses stating them as his place of residence and that through cellular evidence, it shows that on the night of the alleged scuffle, Sandlana was indeed at the church premises.
“The Magistrate agreed with the state that the accused is charged with serious offences that are not only prevalent in our country, but also globally and that both Sandlana’s birth certificates are tempered with,” she said.
Meanwhile, the magistrate highlighted that the two home addresses provided by Sandlana and him moving from one location to another may result in difficulties locating him. Moreover, she said that through the evidence provided, the court can conclude that Sandlana was present at his church premises on the night of the alleged scuffle, but did not want to get arrested.
“In addition, this is a high-profile case that will be made a historical matter in the judiciary and legal fraternity.
“The negative factors of his conduct may jeopardise and undermine the peace and security of the public, invite public disturbance and jeopardise the public confidence in the criminal justice system,” she said.
The magistrate found that the evidence shows that Sandlana poses a flight risk and that he has a blatant disregard of the law, therefore bail was denied. The matter was postponed to 6 March 2026, for further investigations.
The Guardian 