An atmosphere of paranoia and intimidation reigned supreme at the Pretoria magistrate’s court, where the trial of International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) leader Michael Sandlana, who is accused of faking his wife’s death, is under way.
Several men, all clad in masks or tube scarves, with some in hats and caps, inside and outside the court, added to the already heightened security around the court precinct on Tuesday.
In addition to the SA Police Service and court security personnel, there was a large contingent of the church’s guards. They stood watch around the convoy of luxury cars that transported Sandlana.
The convoy, parked in front of the court entrance, formed part of the area demarcated for demonstrations by members of the IPHC and the United African Transformation Party (UAT).
The demonstrations outside the court, comprising a majority of female members, are taking place for the duration of the trial, which is scheduled for the whole week.
The church security, some of whom were wearing pale fatigues, mistook taking pictures of the sizable group of women on the road outside the court for taking pictures of Sandlana’s motorcade.
This resulted in people taking pictures being removed from the cordoned-off part of the street.
Corruption and fraud charges
Sandlana, 63, is facing charges of corruption and fraud for allegedly faking his wife Magalane Benedicta Sandlana’s death. He allegedly obtained a death certificate to benefit from her estate.
Magalane became aware of her “deceased status” when she encountered problems while doing banking transactions.
The 33-year-old Magalane then opened a case of fraud at the Sandton police station on April 16, 2021.
This later led to the arrest of Sandlana and others, including his 48-year-old lawyer, Albert Ramothwala. The accused are out on bail. Sandlana’s bail was set at R5 000.
The media is not allowed to cover the court proceedings because Magalane is under witness protection.
While the second floor of the court was teeming with men whose faces were behind masks, tube scarves, hats and caps, outside of the court building it was the territory of mainly women whose faces were also covered in masks, doeks, and hats.
They came to support the leader of IPHC’s Jerusalem branch. They sang along and danced to songs blazing from speakers under two UAT-branded marquees.
Support for spiritual leader
“We are here to support our spiritual leader,” was a sentiment echoed in and outside the court building.
Inside the court, the church’s spokesperson said about the crowd gathered outside the court: “Church members are here to support their spiritual leader.”
Outside court 14, where Sandlana’s trial was in progress, the police, court security, and assault rifle-carrying officials stood guard.
Along with law-enforcement officials, there were masked church officials and church security guards watching every movement. They questioned the presence of individuals who were not part of the church’s entourage.
