Faith leaders call for fair treatment in Mike Sandlana's corruption case

Various faith based organisations and churches convened a press conference on Friday in Durban, appealing to law enforcement agencies to ensure a fair and equitable application of the law regarding the case against Mike Sandlana, leader of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church’s (IPHC) Jerusalema faction.

This call comes amid growing concerns over alleged double standards and the unfolding implications of factional battles within the church.

The representatives, including prominent church leaders, expressed their dissatisfaction with what they perceive as unfair treatment of Bishop Sandlana compared to a small faction of IPHC members from Zuurbekom.

This faction, constituting less than five per cent of the church's membership, has reportedly received preferential treatment during proceedings led by law enforcement and judicial bodies.

“We subscribe to the principle of law that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the church leaders asserted, stressing that they are not attempting to influence the legal outcome against Sandlana.

However, they raised eyebrows over the portrayal of the case in both mainstream and social media, suggesting that the apparent focus on corruption is intertwined with ongoing factional disputes for leadership within the church.

Concerns were also voiced regarding the recent denial of bail and perceived inconsistencies in the judgements rendered by presiding officers.

“It leaves much to be desired,” they stated, reiterating their belief that the current legal proceedings have been skewed by underlying power struggles rather than focusing solely on the alleged corruption.

Sandlana is currently facing charges of corruption, having been implicated in an alleged bribery scheme involving Pretoria High Court Judge Portia Phahlane.

The accusations claim that Sandlana attempted to secure favourable judgments in a succession dispute, causing significant strife within the church’s hierarchies.

The IPHC, founded in 1962 by the influential Soweto undertaker Frederick Samuel Modise, has been at the centre of controversy following the death of his son, Bishop Glayton Modise, in 2016.

Under his leadership, the church boasted over 350 branches and more than three million members across Southern Africa.

The complexities of this case have deepened as Sandlana's lawyer, Advocate Mike Hellens SC, previously indicated that not all necessary facts were gathered for a bail application during the court proceedings last November.

Following his arrest alongside Phahlane, her son Kagiso, and spokesperson Vusi Ndala, there seems to be uncertainty surrounding any forthcoming bail application for Sandlana, with the main case set to resume on March 6, 2026.

Furthermore, questions were raised regarding the sudden withdrawal of the Modise brothers, Tshepiso and Leonard, from the leadership race for reasons that remain unclear, further fuelling speculation about potential biases within the judiciary and police forces overseeing this tumultuous case.

The KZN faith leaders have challenged why the Zuurbekom faction has not brought their grievances to the High Court, where pertinent issues are being discussed.