A Gauteng High Court judge got busted by the Hawks for allegedly taking bribes to fix a church leadership case. Portia Phahlane, age 57, was arrested at her home alongside her son and two other people connected to the International Pentecost Holiness Church succession drama. Prosecutors claim she pocketed over 2 million rand from one faction trying to control the mega-rich congregation after the bishop died back in 2016. The money trail apparently helped her buy some upscale real estate.
She made bail, but civil society watchdogs are demanding that she be suspended immediately. Judges Matter says the allegations are wild enough that keeping her on the bench wrecks public confidence in the whole judicial system. The case got pushed to late January while investigators keep digging. One side actually tried getting her to recuse herself years ago over similar bribery accusations, but she refused and stayed on the case anyway.
She made bail, but civil society watchdogs are demanding that she be suspended immediately. Judges Matter says the allegations are wild enough that keeping her on the bench wrecks public confidence in the whole judicial system. The case got pushed to late January while investigators keep digging. One side actually tried getting her to recuse herself years ago over similar bribery accusations, but she refused and stayed on the case anyway.
