Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) warns that the confidence ordinary South Africans once placed in the courts is being badly shaken. The arrest of Gauteng High Court Judge Portia Phahlane has sent a shockwave through the country, and it should. When a judge is accused of taking bribes to influence a case, something has gone profoundly wrong.
Judge Phahlane allegedly pocketed R2 million in bribes in a bitter legal battle involving members of the International Pentecost Holiness Church. These payments reportedly included large sums of cash and even a multimillion-rand property. Two individuals accused of paying the bribes have also been taken into custody.
This is not a small matter. Judges hold extraordinary power, and South Africans must be able to believe that those powers are exercised honestly.
The idea that a sitting judge could sell justice to the highest bidder is an insult to every citizen who turns to the courts for fairness.
The DA insists that everyone involved in this scandal must face the full force of the law. No excuses, no special treatment, and certainly no place on the bench for anyone who abuses their position.
But this case is only one part of a deeper problem. Judiciary annual reports released this week show more than 132 complaints were filed against judges in the last financial year alone — over 350 in the past three years.
These range from endless judgment delays to incompetence and allegations of misconduct. Yet the body responsible for investigating these complaints, the Judicial Conduct Committee, is running on fumes. It does not have the staff or resources needed to deal with the volume of cases coming its way, and the backlog is growing.
While the Chief Justice has begun tackling some of the pressure points, including Constitutional Court delays, the broader system is still under strain.
The DA calls for urgent reinforcement of the Judicial Conduct Committee and unwavering action against any judge who breaches the trust of the public. Justice cannot survive if the people no longer believe in it.
Regards
Adv. Glynnis Breytenbach MP
DA Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development
Why was Judge Portia Phahlane arrested?
Gauteng High Court Judge Portia Phahlane was arrested on charges of corruption and money laundering.
The arrest, made by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), is related to allegations that she accepted a bribe (gratification) worth millions of rand in exchange for delivering a favourable judgment in a civil case she was presiding over.
Key Details of the Allegations:
- Core Allegation: That Judge Phahlane received payment(s) to influence a civil case in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
- The Case: The case in question is a long-running and highly contested succession dispute within the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC).
- The Charges: Corruption and Money Laundering.
- Co-Accused: Phahlane was arrested alongside three other suspects, one of whom has been reported to be her son.
- Court Appearance: Phahlane and her co-accused were scheduled to appear before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court shortly after their arrest.
The incident has drawn strong condemnation from civil society groups and parliamentary committees, who have called for her immediate suspension to protect the integrity of the judiciary.