Transnet has now provided a rare insight into how it and its major customers structure and conduct operations covertly for the survival and functioning of a key South African rail communication route, which has been besieged by syndicates plundering and blocking export and import routes.

Fidelity is deployed on the economically vital Transnet North-East Corridor, one of South Africa’s key export routes, and on the coal line to the port of Richards Bay in KwaZulu Natal, Transnet confirmed on enquiry to ProtectionWeb.

It has emerged that a previously top-secret network of Transnet customers has formed a collaborative security network with the utility and have contracted Fidelity to protect the Richards Bay Coal terminal. Fidelity is also protecting the railway line in a parallel operation until at least October 2024.

The Fidelity operation has been ongoing for over a year and will continue to do so until such time a lawful reason emerged to set aside the tender, Transnet said.

Fidelity Group chairperson Wahl Bartmann has pledged Fidelity’s full support for the Transnet probe, initiated recently after a complaint by the African Security Congress (ASC), a political party established as a self-appointed pressure group for security guards and security companies.

Bartmann said in a media statement that Fidelity had succeeded in reducing crime by 75% on the strategic North-East Corridor for Transnet Freight Services.

Transnet also confirmed that none of the other security companies working on the tender are being probed alongside Fidelity. The ASC allegations were met with widespread scepticism and even outright suspicion by many in the private security industry, and even sparked calls for ASC commercial connections and financing to be investigated in turn.

“It seems abundantly clear that ASC is itself trying to influence the appointment of service providers or possibly even trying to stop crucial security operations at Transnet by Fidelity and which are absolutely in the public and national interest,” one highly placed source told ProtectionWeb.

ASC could not be reached for comment and telephone calls were not answered.

Despite initiating the internal probe, Transnet has protested its innocence of any impropriety in awarding the contract. According to the entity, the contract has been operational with Fidelity and others since as far back as July 2023.

Asked by ProtectionWeb whether operations by Fidelity ceased whilst the present tender investigation was in progress, Transnet refuted the possibility.

“No, the purpose of Transnet investigations is to establish whether a transaction involved evidence of irregularity. Until such is determined there is no lawful reason to suspend or review a contract for set-aside,” Transnet said in a statement in response to a ProtectionWeb enquiry.

Transnet went on to state it “has not undertaken any investigations of this nature (parallel to the Fidelity probe) on its security service providers” when asked if other security companies it deploys were also being investigated.

Further details on the operational structuring of the Fidelity tender, awarded after an open competitive tender process, and other collaborative operations with Transnet customers were provided on request by Transnet.

Transnet appointed Fidelity as the Outcome Based Security (OBS) on the North-East Corridor in July 2023. The Richards Bay Coal Terminal and Coal Line contracted Fidelity, and through a Mutual Collaboration Agreement with Transnet customers, appointed the security group on a cost-sharing basis from 1 April to 31 July 2024. The contract was extended for three months to October 2024.

Richard Bay Coal Terminal’s security service provider is Linear Management Systems (LMS) which is managing Fidelity to protect the coal line. Transnet does not hold a contract with LMS, Transnet said.

Earlier, Transnet said it was regrettable that the “peddled narrative” in media reports held that it had cancelled a previous tender for the manufacture of a Contact Wire Reflector (CWR) device to free resources to appoint Fidelity.

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While it is not something anyone wants to think about, it is important to have a plan of action, says Charnel Hattingh, Fidelity ADT’s Group Head of Marketing and Communications.

She says the most prevalent crimes involving armed criminals are home invasions, hijackings and follow-home robberies.

“A key aspect of protecting yourself and your family is to talk about the ‘what if’. Make sure everyone in the family or at your workplace knows what to do in the event of an armed robbery.

“Good perimeter security is vital. This should include a CCTV security system setup, electric fencing, access control systems and outdoor beams and proper lighting. Activate outdoor beams when you get home and the alarm system in areas of the home you are not using.

“Business security systems and home security solutions must be linked to an armed response service provider and all systems must be regularly tested.”

What about when you are away from the security of your home and its round-the-clock security surveillance? You have had to go to the mall or you are at work and a crisis strikes. Or, you are on your way home and you drive straight into a cash heist in progress.

You find yourself metres from criminals with very big guns, making demands and piling into bags whatever they can lay their hands on.

“This is a terrifying ordeal. It is not easy to keep a cool head but staying calm is very important. The criminals are also on edge and if you ‘lose it’ they could become trigger happy,” Hattingh says.

Here are tips from Fidelity ADT for what to do in an armed robbery:

While it’s happening

• Stay calm and obey the robbers’ orders.
• Keep your hands visible and don’t reach for anything unless told to do so.
• Don’t try to negotiate with the robbers. Speak when spoken to and do so clearly.
• Give them what they ask for and don’t lie about safes or cash in the home. In all likelihood, the robbers have done their homework.
• Observe the robbers and try to gather information on their appearances, voices, language used, etc. Look at clothing, distinguishing marks, height and types of weapons, for example.
• Keep them informed so there are no surprises, like a family member arriving for a visit.

Afterwards

• Press your panic button/phone to alert your armed response service provider and/or phone the police on 10111. Be sure to state if you need medical assistance too.
• Lock all doors.
• Check on the victims. Keep everyone calm.
• Relate the incident clearly and in detail to the first responders.
• Try not to disturb areas the robbers were in and point out anything they may have left behind.

“South Africans are often heard saying ‘you’re not safe anywhere anymore’. This is, unfortunately, true. We live in an extremely dangerous country where criminals continue to ply their trade unabated, often with the aid of high-calibre weapons not even the police are equipped to counter,” Hattingh says.

“This is why it is so important for each of us to take responsibility for our own safety through being vigilant, reporting suspicious activity and installing proper home security solutions, such as security camera systems, electric fencing and access control systems.”

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