A Pretoria High Court judge has been arrested for allegedly accepting bribes to sway a judgment in a bitter succession battle within one of South Africa’s largest churches.
Judge Portia Phahlane was taken into custody late Tuesday night alongside three other suspects – including her son – during an operation by the Hawks police unit targeting corruption and money laundering linked to leadership dispute within the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC).
Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said investigators uncovered a money trail worth millions of rand allegedly exchanged among the accused.
The arrests mark a dramatic turn in the long-running leadership feud within the IPHC, which has been mired in controversy since the death of its leader, Glayton Modise, in 2016.
His passing triggered a succession battle among his sons and senior church figures, splitting the congregation and sparking multiple court cases over control of the church’s vast assets and influence.
The Hawks allege that Phahlane accepted bribes to manipulate rulings in favour of one faction, undermining judicial integrity in a case that has already strained the church’s unity.
The IPHC, with millions of followers across Southern Africa, has faced violent clashes, property disputes, and repeated legal battles as rival groups vie for leadership.
The suspects are expected to appear before the Pretoria Serious Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday.
JN/APA