PRETORIA - Pretoria High Court Judge Portia Phahlane has been placed on special leave immediately.
This follows claims that she received bribes in exchange for favourable judgments.
Chief Justice Mandisa Maya says the decision was taken to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary.
A process to suspend the judge is underway.
Phahlane says she will plead not guilty to corruption and money laundering charges.
READ: Judge, son, IPHC leaders in hot water over bribery claims
She appeared in court alongside her son and two church leaders.
Since the death of its founder’s son in 2016, International Pentecostal Holiness Church has been locked in a bitter leadership battle, with multiple factions vying for control of its millions-strong membership and vast assets.
Though Phahlane and her son walked out on bail, her judicial future now hangs by a thread.
Judges Matter is calling for her immediate suspension, thrusting her entire judicial career and the judgments she has been involved in under the spotlight.
Church faction leader Mike Sandlana was denied bail after allegedly resisting arrest, while the opposing faction now feels vindicated.
The rival church faction says the fallout is long overdue, a reckoning they insist has been years in the making.
All eyes now turn to 6 March 2026, when Judge Phahlane, her son and co-accused will stand trial.
IPHC faction leader Mike Sandlana remains behind bars, awaiting a postponed bail hearing on 3 December.
- eNCA's Theodor Mashele reports.