Judge Phahlane Placed on Special Leave Amid Corruption Charges

Judge Portia Dipuo Phahlane of the Gauteng High Court has been placed on special leave with immediate effect by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya after her arrest on corruption and money-laundering charges linked to alleged multimillion-rand bribes. Phahlane was granted bail of R50 000 alongside her co-accused and will appear in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

The charges stem from her involvement in a church succession bribery case, where she allegedly accepted substantial payments in exchange for influencing legal rulings within the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC). Formal suspension proceedings are now under consideration as Phahlane’s criminal case unfolds.