James Stuart Scharnick, a man with a long criminal record, has opened a case against Crime Intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo. The move follows Khumalo’s testimony before the Madlanga Commission, where he linked Scharnick to senior police officials and alleged criminal infiltration within the SAPS.
James Stuart Scharnick has opened criminal charges against the head of Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, adding another layer of tension to the ongoing police scandals gripping the country.
The case, filed in Pretoria, follows Khumalo’s testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where he revealed that a vehicle belonging to Scharnick had been used by suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya.
Khumalo testified that Scharnick has a history of 34 criminal charges, including 18 convictions, 11 withdrawals, and 5 acquittals. He alleged that the vehicle registered in Scharnick’s name was used during a key police operation and at a parliamentary appearance involving Sibiya. The disclosure suggested possible ties between senior police officers and individuals with known criminal backgrounds.
Scharnick has now accused Khumalo of defamation and unlawful disclosure of personal information, claiming that his reputation was deliberately tarnished. His legal team argues that Khumalo’s statements were made to frame him as part of a larger narrative of corruption within the police service without evidence to support the claims.
Khumalo, however, maintains that his testimony was part of a broader investigation into criminal infiltration and misconduct within SAPS leadership. His appearance at the commission aimed to uncover patterns of collusion between law enforcement and criminal networks, which have long undermined public trust in the police.
