Controversial businessman Stuart Scharnick appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court on fresh firearm-related charges, with the matter postponed for a bail application next week.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed on Wednesday that the 40-year-old made his first appearance on charges stemming from alleged contraventions of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

According to the NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara., Scharnick faces two charges.

He is accused of contravening Section 120(10)(a) of the Act, which relates to allegedly giving possession of a firearm to a person who is not legally permitted to possess it.

"Contravening Section 25 of the Act, which relates to the alleged failure to notify the Registrar of Firearms of a change of address where the firearm is kept," Ramkisson-Kara said.

The NPA said the matter was postponed to September 2, 2026, for consideration of bail.

“The NPA confirms that Stuart Scharnick, 40, made his first appearance in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on charges relating to the alleged contravention of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000,” said Ramkisson-Kara.

Scharnick was also recently arrested at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria after Sowetan journalist Herman Moloi opened an intimidation case against him following an alleged confrontation at the commission.

Scharnick was arrested after Moloi alleged that he had been intimidated while carrying out his reporting duties.

The businessman separately appeared in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on firearm-related charges earlier this week. Those charges arose from a SAPS investigation into compliance with firearm storage and registration requirements.

Police allegedly found that Scharnick had moved from an address without notifying the Central Firearms Registry and that one of his firearms was allegedly not stored in a prescribed safe.

That matter was postponed to September 1 for a formal bail application.

Source: https://iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2026-08-26-businessman-stuart-scharnick-in-court-over-fresh-firearm-related-charges/