Johannesburg – Acting Judge President Ledwaba has laid a formal complaint against Judge Phahlane with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Gauteng High Court Judge Portia Phahlane was arrested on 25 November 2025, for allegedly accepting R2 million in bribes, including cash and property, in an International Pentecost Holiness Church succession case.
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She denies the allegations and claims the case is a “personal vendetta”.
However, on Friday, 20 February 2026, the Office of the Chief Justice said: “We confirm that Acting Judge President Ledwaba has laid a formal complaint against Judge Phahlane with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).”
The Office of the Chief Justice revealed that the Acting Chairperson of the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) has referred the complaint to the JCC, in terms of section 16 (1) (a) and (b) of the Judicial Services Commission Act 9 of 1994 (JSC Act).
“The JCC will, after considering submissions by AJP Ledwaba and Judge Phahlane, then make a decision as to the further treatment of the complaint,” stated the Office of the Chief Justice.
“In the light of the referral of this complaint to the JCC, both AJP Ledwaba as complainant, and Judge Phahlane as the respondent against whom the complaint has been launched, have been given until the 27th of February to make submissions for consideration by the JCC as already mentioned.
“It is also confirmed that now that the JSC is in full control of this matter, Judge Phahlane will not preside in any part-head matter until the JSC complaint process has run its course, in line with the bail conditions imposed in the criminal proceedings against Judge Phahlane.”
Meanwhile, allegations of wrongdoing made against the acting judge president appear to remain in limbo.
Last year in October, Acting Judge President Ledwaba was accused, during a witness testimony before the ongoing Madlanga Commission, of receiving a R2.5 million bribe to grant R100 000 bail to alleged underworld figure Katiso “KT” Molefe in a murder case.
Ledwaba denies the allegations and has since declined special leave.
