South Africa’s biggest private security company prepares for national shutdown

Fidelity Services, South Africa’s largest private security provider, is preparing for potential social unrest surrounding the anti-immigration protest scheduled for 30 June. 

The company said in a statement that it is activating contingency measures and is closely monitoring developments across the country.  

These preparations come as South Africa experiences a sharp rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in recent months, which risks turning into widespread social unrest. 

A citizen-led movement, ‘March and March’, has been at the forefront of protests against illegal immigration, aggressively campaigning for stricter enforcement and mass deportations.

March and March issued a public ultimatum for all undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa to leave the country voluntarily by 30 June, threatening a national shutdown should this not happen.

Fidelity Services CEO Wahl Bartmann said the company’s National Joint Operations Centre (JOC) is liaising closely with all relevant authorities to ensure preparedness should any unrest occur.

“Our teams are on standby with comprehensive contingency plans in place to manage any potential incidents arising from the planned protest action,” Bartmann said.

Fidelity has placed helicopter and drone pilots on standby and is prepared to deploy additional resources, including specialised personnel and armoured personnel carriers, where required.

“We will also be closely monitoring public-space cameras within our network to assist with situational awareness and rapid response,” Bartmann said.

“We are also prepared to support recovery efforts through both air and ground resources, working in conjunction with the South African Police Service (SAPS).” 

Fidelity said that current intelligence indicates that concerns are centred around specific local nodes, transport routes, town centres, business districts, municipal offices and foreign-owned business environments. 

At this stage, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have been identified as potential flashpoint areas.

The immediate threat is assessed as localised but potentially disruptive, with possible impacts including road blockages, delays in staff movement, and intimidation of foreign-owned businesses.

Fidelity also expects demands for documentation at workplaces, temporary business closures, retail disruption, and pressure on public service sites to mount in the buildup to 30 June.

The government is also preparing for social unrest in relation to the 30 June protests, with more police being deployed this week to deter violence. 

“There has been mobilisation around this issue over a period of time, and we expect it to continue after June 30, so we have plans in place,” acting police minister Firoz Cachalia told SAfm. 

The demonstrations have stoked fears of a recurrence of violence in KwaZulu-Natal and the commercial hub of Gauteng in July 2021 that followed the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma. 

The week of deadly riots marked the worst civil unrest in South Africa since 1994, leaving more than 300 people dead and thousands of businesses looted or burned down.

“We don’t want a repeat of that, so we’re not going to take any chances,” Cachalia said. The police deployment will cost R600 million.

“The people involved in efforts of destabilisation should know that we are deploying on the basis of our constitutional responsibility to keep the country safe,” he said.

The nation’s army has been placed on standby as a contingency measure in case of unrest, though current intelligence suggests that won’t be the case, Defence Minister Angie Motshekga said.