Judicial Conduct Committee to probe complaint against corruption-accused Judge Phahlane

The Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) will investigate a complaint against corruption-accused Judge Portia Phahlane.

The complaint was lodged by Aubrey Ledwaba, the acting Judge President of the Pretoria High Court, and comes after the arrest of Phahlane and her son on corruption charges.

It has emerged that Phahlane allegedly received bribes in connection with a legal dispute over succession within the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has taken control of the matter and tasked the JCC - a body of judges that investigates complaints against judges - with conducting a formal investigation.

Both Ledwaba and Phahlane have until next Friday to submit representations to the JCC.

In the meantime, Phahlane will not preside over any part-heard matters until the process is concluded, in line with the bail conditions imposed in the criminal proceedings against her.

It is alleged that seven months before she was officially allocated the church succession case, Phahlane had already accepted a bribe related to the matter.

Meanwhile, Ledwaba has also been accused of accepting a R2.5 million bribe to grant alleged crime boss Katiso Molefe bail of a R100,000.

Ledwaba has denied this allegation.