Controversial businessman Stuart Scharnick in court over firearm violations

Stuart Scharnick, a controversial businessman, faced the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on charges linked to firearm violations. The matter was pushed back for a bail hearing next week. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) revealed on Wednesday that the 40-year-old faced two charges under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

Scharnick is accused of breaching Section 120(10)(a), which pertains to allegedly handing over a firearm to someone who cannot legally possess it. Additionally, he is alleged to have contravened Section 25 of the Act, which deals with failing to inform the Registrar of Firearms about a change of address where the firearm is stored.

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, an NPA spokesperson, confirmed these details. The case was rescheduled for September 2, 2026. Recently, Scharnick was apprehended at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria, following a complaint by Sowetan journalist Herman Moloi. Moloi accused Scharnick of intimidation while Moloi was doing his job during the inquiry.

The businessman also appeared in the Randburg Magistrate's Court earlier this week, charged with firearm-related offenses. These charges stemmed from a SAPS probe into Scharnick's adherence to firearm storage and registration regulations. It emerged that Scharnick had changed his address without notifying the Central Firearms Registry and that one of his firearms was reportedly not stored in a secure safe. That issue was postponed to September 1 for a formal bail application.