Stuart James Sharnick
Stuart Scharnick told the Madlanga Commission that Crime Intelligence operatives were involved in the assassination of Sindiso Magaqa. The former bodyguard of suspended deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya made the claim amid ongoing investigations into corruption, cartel links, and obstruction within the SAPS.
Stuart Scharnick, a former bodyguard to suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, has made startling allegations before the Madlanga Commission, claiming that members of Crime Intelligence were involved in the assassination of Sindiso Magaqa. Scharnick, who has faced 34 criminal cases over his career, appeared before the commission to testify about his knowledge of alleged criminal networks within the South African Police Service.
During his testimony, Scharnick described his interactions with senior police officials and their alleged connections to organised crime figures, including Katiso “KT” Molefe and Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala. He asserted that some Crime Intelligence operatives had knowledge of, and potentially participated in, operations that resulted in Magaqa’s death, which has sparked widespread concern over internal corruption and collusion.
The commission has previously heard about the involvement of SAPS officers in the so-called Big Five cartel network, including the use of police vehicles for illicit activities and the movement of cash between suspects. Scharnick’s claims add another layer to these ongoing investigations, highlighting the potential for systemic corruption and obstruction within the police service.
Scharnick’s testimony also raised questions about accountability and oversight within Crime Intelligence, suggesting that senior officers may have facilitated or ignored criminal acts while maintaining positions of authority. Legal analysts note that such allegations, if substantiated, could have far-reaching implications for public trust in law enforcement and the integrity of high-profile criminal investigations.
