Wednesday, 26 November 2025.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes with deep concern the arrest of Portia Dipuo Phahlane, a judge of the Pretoria High Court, together with three others, by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), on allegations of corruption and money-laundering linked to a church-succession dispute in the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC).

Reports allege that Judge Phahlane accepted bribes worth millions of rand in a covert money-trail in exchange for delivering a favourable ruling for her co-accused Michael Sandlana’s faction in the IPHC succession battle. This development casts serious doubt on the legitimacy of all judgments that have been presided over by Judge Phahlane. Once a court that was supposed to guarantee fairness becomes susceptible to cash-led deals, the credibility of every ruling she handed down is automatically tainted.

More broadly, the arrest brings the judiciary — a pillar meant to uphold constitutional order, equality before the law, and public trust — into disrepute. It vindicates longstanding warnings and fears raised by the EFF and many South Africans about judicial manipulation and corruption. In particular, it raises urgent, serious questions about politically-sensitive matters such as the controversial cases surrounding the CR17 documents and the Phala Phala judgement. If judges can be bought, then the foundations of legal certainty and fairness in those cases, and many others, collapse.

While she has been granted bail, the EFF demands the immediate suspension of Judge Phahlane from all judicial duties pending the final outcome of the criminal investigation. The risk that more rulings may have been compromised requires urgent protection of the integrity of the courts. We additionally call for a full, transparent forensic review of all past judgments issued by Judge Phahlane, to identify and overturn any decisions tainted by corruption. Every South African has the right to a fair and honest judiciary.

The EFF reiterates that this must not be treated as an isolated incident or scandal to be handled quietly. This has become a systematic issue, raised even by Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi, that our judiciary has been captured and urgent action is required, particularly by making examples of such cases and prosecuting such judges effectively.

ISSUED BY ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Sinawo Thambo (National Spokesperson) 072 629 7422

Thembi Msane (National Spokesperson) 061 467 8169

Andiswa Madikazi (Parliament Media Liason) 069 516 4924

Thato Lebyane (Media Inquiries) 078 563 1581