City denies Fidelity-ADT right to operate fire services

Fidelity ADT’s recently launched private firefighting service, Fidelity SecureFire, has been deemed “unlawful” by Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Service, which says no agreement exists for its operation in the city.

Launched in June in Cape Town, the subscription-based service has been active in Gauteng since 2023 and operates in Durban, East London, Gqeberha, and Bloemfontein. The company promotes itself as transforming fire protection in South Africa through technology, speed, and precision. Cape Town’s chief fire officer, Clinton Manuel, informed Fidelity in May that the service is “unregulated” and “constitutionally impermissible.”

The city opposes private firefighting services, refusing to outsource emergency functions for commercial gain or enter agreements with Fidelity. Manuel noted that Fidelity is not connected to the city’s emergency or fire service control centers and often fails to report fires, despite occasionally arriving first at incidents. He has instructed city incident commanders to remove Fidelity staff from emergency scenes, citing safety and management concerns due to unauthorized providers. Law enforcement may be called to enforce this, and Manuel emphasized that only municipal fire services can use city fire hydrants.

Cape Town’s fire service, with over 130 vehicles and agreements with district municipalities and the Western Cape government, claims sufficient capacity without private entities. In Gauteng, private firefighting services are growing, but the City of Tshwane has initiated legal action against such providers for operating without regulatory approval, citing compromised incident management and bylaw violations.

The DA suggests regulating private services rather than abolishing them, reinforcing their reputation of enthusiasm for red tape. Fidelity’s CEO, Wahl Bartmann, denies the service is unlawful, asserting it complements municipal efforts and operates under contractual agreements, similar to private security firms. Despite municipal resistance, Fidelity plans to expand to Stellenbosch, Paarl, Worcester, Hermanus, and other areas soon. (300 words)