December 2025, The Gauteng Division of the High Court has delivered a clear judgment confirming that Fidelity SecureFire’s private firefighting services are lawful and may be rendered nationally across South Africa.
The application brought by the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality Emergency Services Department and others against Fidelity SecureFire was dismissed in full, with costs, including the costs of two counsel.
The Court confirmed that the Fire Brigade Services Act 99 of 1987 does not prohibit private companies from rendering firefighting services to their own clients under contract, and that Fidelity SecureFire’s operating model is legally sound. As a result, Fidelity SecureFire is legally entitled to operate anywhere within the Republic of South Africa, subject to its contractual arrangements with clients.
This judgment provides clarity on an issue of growing importance in South Africa’s emergency services and insurance landscape.
The Court affirmed that:
- Private firefighting services rendered to contracted clients are lawful.
- Fidelity SecureFire does not operate as a municipal fire brigade.
- There is no legal requirement for Fidelity SecureFire to register as a designated service under section 4 of the Act.
- Fidelity SecureFire may lawfully render private firefighting services nationally, and is not restricted to any specific municipality or region.
The attempt to interdict Fidelity SecureFire from operating was dismissed in its entirety.
The Court’s reasoning reflects a straightforward interpretation of the law as written, read in context and aligned with its purpose.
Commenting on the judgment, Wahl Bartmann, Group Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Services Group said “This ruling provides long-overdue legal certainty. Fidelity SecureFire exists to protect lives, assets, and critical infrastructure for clients who choose additional layers of protection, including businesses, communities, and insurers who rely on predictable, professional fire response. The Court has confirmed that this can be done lawfully, responsibly, and nationally within the framework of South African law.” Bartmann explains. “We remain fully open to cooperation with municipalities and public emergency services.”
“In a country like South Africa, where resources are often stretched, help and capability should be accepted with open arms. Public safety is not a competition, it is a shared responsibility,” says Bartmann.
He reiterates that “Innovation must not be suppressed; it must be welcomed. New technology, data, and response models strengthen outcomes when they are responsibly applied. Progress in emergency services comes from partnership, not resistance. I would also like to thank our partners, insurers, and all our clients for their continued support and trust. Their commitment enables us to keep investing in people, technology, and readiness, and to deliver the level of service that protecting lives and assets demands.”
From 1 January 2025 to 1 November 2025, Fidelity SecureFire responded to 1117 fire-related incidents across its covered regions. During this period, Fidelity SecureFire was first on scene in 75.9% of all incidents.
These responses have directly contributed to:
- Saving lives
- Preserving business continuity
- Preventing escalation of fire incidents
- Protecting hundreds of businesses, communities, and insured assets
Fidelity SecureFire operates a tiered national response model, consisting of a fleet of 600 first responder units positioned for rapid initial intervention, 34 second responder units (R-I-V) equipped for escalation and sustained firefighting and 34 third responder units, including fire engines, water tankers, and specialised firefighting units
This layered approach ensures proportional, efficient, and decisive response – deploying the right capability at the right time, anywhere in the country.
During 2025, Fidelity SecureFire successfully rolled out operations across all major metropolitan areas in South Africa, while expanding into key regional markets, including: Polokwane, Richards Bay, Nelspruit, Rustenburg, Pietermaritzburg, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Hermanus, and Worcester.
Building on this national foundation, Fidelity SecureFire will roll out services in the following regions in early 2026: Ladysmith, Klerksdorp, Welkom, Vryheid, Margate, Plettenberg Bay, Newcastle, Middelburg, Kimberley, Jeffreys Bay, George, and Witbank.
This expansion reflects continued investment in response capacity, innovation, and people, extending professional fire response coverage across South Africa. The High Court’s judgment confirms Fidelity SecureFire’s legal right to operate nationally, without restriction, across South Africa.
With this certainty in place, Fidelity SecureFire now has the freedom to focus fully on execution at national scale — expanding coverage, strengthening response capability, and protecting lives, property, and business continuity wherever our clients operate.
