IPHC Church Boss Mike Sandlana Denied Bail Over Judge Bribery Claims

The Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court has refused bail to International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) leader Mike Sandlana, ruling that he poses a flight risk and showed a “wanton disregard for the law”.

Sandlana is accused of bribing high court judge Portia Phahlane to secure a favourable ruling in a bitter succession dispute involving control of the wealthy church.

Bail Refused as Court Flags Flight Risk and Witness Threats

Delivering judgment on Monday, magistrate Nica Setshoga said Sandlana failed to convince the court that releasing him would be in the interests of justice.

She noted that affidavits had been submitted by individuals who claimed they were threatened, and said Sandlana was likely to flee if granted bail.

“The court found Sandlana failed to discharge the onus placed on him to show the court on a balance of probabilities that the interest of justice permits his release.”

As the ruling was read out, Sandlana, dressed in a suit and wearing a surgical mask, stared straight ahead. Outside, supporters lined Visagie Street in the rain, waiting anxiously for the outcome.

Alleged Judge Bribery at Heart of IPHC Succession Battle

Sandlana and his spokesperson, Vusi Ndala, were arrested in November alongside Judge Phahlane, who presided over the controversial legal fight over IPHC leadership.

Phahlane’s son, Kagiso, was also arrested. He, his mother and Ndala have since been granted bail.

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All four accused face a combined 19 counts of corruption linked to the alleged bribery scheme surrounding the church succession dispute.

The state opposed Sandlana’s bail, arguing that he could intimidate witnesses and had allegedly submitted fraudulent identity documents to the court.

Health Claims and Court Challenges Undermine Bail Bid

The court also heard that Sandlana attempted to approach the Pretoria High Court on December 1 with an urgent application to be released on medical grounds, despite his bail application still being pending in the lower court.

His initial bail hearing was later abandoned on December 3 after his legal team said they were not ready to proceed.

In his application, Sandlana claimed to suffer from multiple chronic illnesses that could not be properly treated in prison. He submitted a medical report from a private doctor suggesting he had suffered what appeared to be an asthma attack while in custody.

However, the state argued that the doctor, Aluwani Sabata, was a loyal church follower who exaggerated Sandlana’s condition to gain sympathy. An independent medical practitioner reportedly found no evidence to support the claims.

Setshoga further noted that Sandlana had given different addresses in various court documents and allegedly misled police about his whereabouts when officers tried to arrest him, concluding that he was “not a suitable candidate for bail”.

Sandlana is expected to remain behind bars over the festive season. The case has been postponed to 6 March 2026 to be joined with that of his co-accused and for further investigation.

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