IPHC members in support of leader Sandlana outside the courtroom.

IPHC members in support of leader Sandlana outside the court.

As their leader, Michael Sandlana, makes his second appearance, hundreds of members of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) have gathered outside the Specialized Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria. Sandlana, his spokesperson Vusi Ndala, Pretoria High Court Judge Portia Phahlane, and her son Kagiso are all charged with 19 counts of corruption and money-laundering.

In order to obtain a favorable ruling in a case concerning the church’s leadership succession dispute, Sandlana allegedly paid Phahlane about R2 million. According to Mighty Mabule, the church’s spokesperson, they are in court to defend their father, who puts a lot of effort into making people’s lives better.

“As IPC members, we are here to support our father, who is working extremely hard to improve the lives of people, both church members and the general South African community. Therefore, we are here to demonstrate our support and to respectfully inform the authorities that justice will be served; we are simply awaiting the completion of the entire process.