Businessman Stuart Scharnick was granted R5,000 bail at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 9 September 2026 on firearms charges including failing to notify a change of address, improper storage of a firearm and allowing unauthorised access to a weapon. Image: Supplied
Businessman Stuart James Scharnick appeared at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 9 September 2026 and received R5,000 bail on firearms charges. The Stuart Scharnick bail hearing followed his arrest at the Madlanga Commission on 20 August 2026. Sowetan journalist Herman Moloi opened a case of intimidation against him. Furthermore, Scharnick faces three firearms charges. These include failing to notify a change of address, improper storage of a firearm and allowing unauthorised access to a firearm. As a result, one of the most controversial figures to emerge from the Madlanga Commission is now out of custody on two separate legal fronts.
The incident that led to Scharnick’s first arrest happened on 20 August 2026 at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria. Sowetan journalist Herman Moloi covered the commission and filmed Scharnick interacting with NCC MP Fadiel Adams during a tea break. Scharnick confronted Moloi and accused him of posting videos on TikTok without permission. Moloi denied the accusation and told Scharnick he does not have a TikTok account. Furthermore, the situation escalated when Scharnick allegedly asked Moloi whether he wanted to take it outside. As a result, Moloi opened a criminal case of intimidation and police arrested Scharnick at the commission within hours.
The Sowetan condemned the incident immediately. Editor Sibongakonke Shoba said the newspaper condemned Scharnick’s conduct in the strongest possible terms and called his behaviour toward Moloi unacceptable. The newspaper took its complaint directly to the Madlanga Commission. Furthermore, Shoba said threats against journalists are threats against democracy. As a result, the incident drew condemnation from press freedom organisations and South Africans who followed the footage on social media.
The Madlanga Commission responded directly. Michaels said the commission would not tolerate it. The commission said it would review the rules governing how people conduct themselves at public hearings. Social media users shared video of Scharnick going into a police van widely. Furthermore, Michaels noted that all members of the public, including Scharnick, retain the right to attend commission hearings. As a result, attending its proceedings does not give anyone the right to threaten journalists.
Scharnick is a Johannesburg businessman and a close associate of suspended Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya. He had no official business before the commission on the day of the incident. Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalu told the commission that Scharnick is linked to vehicle hijacking cases. Furthermore, Scharnick has a prior criminal record and separate allegations describe him as a serial hijacker. As a result, his presence at the commission on the day he confronted Moloi raised immediate questions about why he was there and who he was with.
The three firearms charges Scharnick faces relate to alleged contraventions of the Firearms Control Act. Failing to notify a change of address requires all licensed firearm holders to inform SAPS when they move. Improper storage requires all firearms to be kept in a SAPS-approved safe. Allowing unauthorised access means an unlicensed person got hold of the firearm. Furthermore, each charge carries a potential prison sentence. As a result, Scharnick faces charges with real consequences regardless of their technical nature.
Scharnick will return to the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on a date to be confirmed. His legal team made no public statement at the time of publication.
The law presumes Stuart James Scharnick innocent until a court proves otherwise. No court has proven any of the charges against him. All information is based on reporting by the Sowetan, TimesLIVE, News24, IOL, SABC News and Scrolla Africa published between 20 August and 9 September 2026.