General Sibiya bodyguard, Stuart James Scharnick
In a jaw-dropping testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo revealed the troubling criminal record of Stuart James Scharnick, the bodyguard to suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
According to Khumalo, Scharnick has faced 34 criminal cases over nearly a decade, with 18 convictions primarily for serious offences such as car hijacking and theft in KwaZulu-Natal. Eleven cases were withdrawn and five resulted in not-guilty verdicts. These revelations have sent shockwaves through the commission, raising fresh concerns about the infiltration of criminal elements into the highest ranks of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“The owner of the car, as I’ve mentioned, Mr James, has a total of 34 cases. He was found guilty in 18, 11 were withdrawn, and five he was found not guilty. That is the profile as per our systems,” Khumalo told the commission on Tuesday, 4 November 2025.
The disclosure emerged as part of Khumalo’s ongoing testimony into alleged corruption, political interference, and syndicate links within SAPS. Investigators are still verifying whether Scharnick ever served time behind bars, given the gravity of his convictions. The issue came to light after authorities discovered that a white Toyota Hilux, frequently used by Sibiya and spotted at his residence during a search operation, is registered in Scharnick’s name.
Scharnick’s association with Sibiya has drawn public attention before. He was seen standing behind Sibiya during the deputy commissioner’s testimony before Parliament’s ad hoc committee in October 2025, raising questions about how someone with such a criminal history gained access to a top police official. Khumalo argued that this underscores weaknesses in SAPS’ vetting processes for individuals close to senior officers.
“This raises serious red flags about the integrity and safeguards within SAPS,” Khumalo said. “If someone with 18 convictions can act as a bodyguard to a deputy national commissioner, it undermines public confidence and creates potential security risks.”
The testimony comes amid broader investigations into syndicate infiltration of the criminal justice system, initiated following KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s July 2025 claims. The inquiry has already examined allegations of bribery, interference, and collusion, with figures such as businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi named in related probes.
Sibiya, suspended amid these allegations, has denied wrongdoing. However, Khumalo’s evidence, including audio recordings and WhatsApp messages allegedly showing payoffs and interference, continues to cast a shadow over the integrity of SAPS leadership.
The Madlanga Commission adjourned for the day, with Khumalo’s testimony set to continue on Wednesday, 5 November 2025.
