State plans to oppose church leader Sandlana’s bail after alleged violent attack by bodyguards

An alleged violent attack by the bodyguards of International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) leader Michael Sandlana have kept him behind bars, with the State planning on opposing his bail.

Sandlana appeared in the Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday, along with High Court Judge Portia Phahlane and two others.

Phahlane is accused of taking bribes of over R2 million from Sandlana for a judgement in his favour, in a church succession matter that has been presiding over.

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Sandlana is one of three men who claim to be the rightful leader of the church after Glayton Modise died in 2016.

While Judge Phahlane, her son, Kagiso, Sandlana and his spokesperson, Vusi Ndala, appear in the Commercial Crimes Court on corruption andmoney laundering charges, the State did not oppose bail for all but one of them.

Prosecutors told the court that they needed time to evaluate Sandlana’s case for bail after his bodyguards allegedly violently attacked police officers, landing them in hospital.

Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said, “That was the altercation that transpired when the four suspect was being detained, wherein the members of the National Intervention Unit were badly assaulted.”

Mogale said one of the officers lost their firearm during the altercation, but it was later returned by Sandlana’s security.

Sandlana will return to court next week for bail application.