STUART James Scharnick has been arrested following harassment and intimidation to Sowetan’s reporter Herman Moloi.
The muscled Scharnick was uncomfortable for having his interaction with suspended MP and National Coloured Congress (NCC) leader Fadiel Adams, video taken at Madlanga Commission’s hearings, today.
Moloi, who is amongst throngs of media hordes covering the proceedings, was confronted by the intimidating Scharnick, during tea-break.
The terribly exasperated Moloi explained to the SABC that journalists were taking pictures of Scharnick because he had approached Adams, and when he walked away, he asked the journalist why he was taking a video of him without his permission.
“I’m telling him that we are authorised to take videos, and then he said, ‘Even yesterday, you took videos of me and posted on social media,’ and I’m like, yesterday I didn’t take any video of you,” he said.
Finger-pointing, intimidating demeanour, and suggesting they move the discussion outside, prompted Moloi to open a case, of which Scharnick was arrested by heavily armed Police outside the premises of the Commission.
Moloi took to X to assure South Africans that he was okay, and “I was unable to take calls and reply to messages because I was busy registering a criminal case. I will now allow the law to take its course,” he wrote.
“Thank you to everyone who checked up on me.”
Jeremy Michaels, spokesperson for the Madlanga Commission condemned any unacceptable behaviour towards journalists, emphasising their crucial role in communicating the proceedings to the public and the world.
“We will not tolerate this,” he was quoted.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has strongly condemned an attempt to bully and intimidate the journalist.
SANEF would like to remind all South Africans that the Bridget Mabandla Justice College, where the commission is sitting, is a public space and journalists have been permitted to film and report freely from the venue.
They do not have to seek the permission of anybody to do so.
Media freedom is a protected right under Section 16 of the Constitution, and a vital pillar of democracy, it said.
SANEF’s Media Freedom Committee Chairperson, Nicki Gules, said: “We commend the swift action taken by the police in apprehending Scharnick, and appreciate the Commission’s support for Moloi.”
“Reporters are increasingly being intimidated in the course of their duties and blocked from doing their work,” she said.
SANEF believes that acts of intimidation against journalists constitute act of intimidation against the South African public – on whose behalf journalists report.
Sowetan editor Sibongakonke Shoba said threats against journalists are a threat against democracy.
“Journalists must be free to report on matters of public interest without fear, threats or harassment. A threat against journalists does not only affect the individual but also adversely impacts the public’s right to know,” he said.
Scharnick, is a close ally of suspended Lt Shadrack Sibiya, appeared at the proceedings before, and last year KwaZulu-Natal police alleged that a SAPS employee manipulated the criminal records system to hide his history of cases, including 10 motor vehicle thefts and eight carjackings that consolidated into a lenient plea of a five-year suspended sentence and R150 000 fine.
Meanwhile, Adams continues with his testimony tomorrow, with Commissioners ‘pointing fingers’ at him for being untruthful in his testimony.
Image SABC (Muscled Stuart James Scharnick recorded intimidating Sowetans’ reporter Herman Moloi at today’s Madlanga Inquiry. He was subsequently arrested by heavily armed SAPS.)
