Complaint against Judge Phahlane referred to JCC amid R2.4 million bribe allegations

A formal complaint has been lodged against troubled Judge Portia Phahlane by Acting Judge President Ledwaba, with the matter now officially referred to the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) for consideration.

According to a statement released on the issue, Acting Judge President Ledwaba submitted the complaint to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The Acting Chairperson of the JCC subsequently referred the complaint to the committee in terms of Section 16(1)(a) and (b) of the Judicial Service Commission Act 9 of 1994.

The JCC is expected to review submissions from both Acting Judge President Ledwaba, as the complainant, and Judge Phahlane, 57, who is the respondent in the matter. Following consideration of these submissions, the committee will determine the appropriate course of action regarding the complaint.

Both parties have been granted until 27 February to submit their representations to the JCC.

The statement further confirmed that, with the JSC now overseeing the matter, Judge Phahlane will not preside over any part-heard cases until the complaint process has been finalised.

"This measure is in line with the bail conditions imposed in the ongoing criminal proceedings against her. The outcome of the JCC’s deliberations will determine the next steps in the complaint process," read the statement.

Judge Phahlane was late last year released on R50,000 bail by the Pretoria Special Commercial Crimes Court, alongside her son, Kagiso Phahlane, who was released on R10,000 bail.

They face corruption charges alongside co-accused, Vusi Soli Ndala, and a leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church, Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana.

All four accused are collectively facing 19 counts of corruption. It is alleged that between 2021 and 2022, Ndala and Sandlana made payments of about R2.4 million on different occasions to different banking accounts, to and for the benefit of Judge Phahlane, in order for her to preside over Sandlana’s ongoing civil case at the High Court and ultimately rule in his favour.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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