Security guards raise concerns about living situation in Lonehill

Security guards working for a security group have raised their concerns in the media about their living conditions.

The guards said that during the lockdown period they had been offered accommodation in Lonehill. They claimed that there were 47 guards sleeping in the same location and they were sleeping on inflatable mattresses and cardboard boxes. The guards also claimed that they used water buckets to bathe and had not been provided with food.

In response to the allegations, Wahl Bartmann, the CEO for Fidelity Services Group confirmed that some Fidelity Security officers had been staying in Lonehill over the weekend (18 and 19 April).

Bartmann said some of the officers requested to stay in the area and discussions were subsequently held with the Lonehill Residents Association to assist in accommodating the officers. He said that there were between seven and 10 officers who stayed voluntarily.

“Three sites were identified including our own. The safety and security of our officers and customers remain our primary priority. All of our staff staying over in the area have been given food, courtesy of the Lonehill Residents Association, and supplied with personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and sanitisers from Fidelity.

“Security officers have been advised to adhere to and maintain the social distancing guidelines as far as practically possible whilst still carrying out their duties.”

Bartmann said he was concerned to hear exaggerated reports concerning sleeping arrangements in these facilities and is investigating these unsubstantiated claims. “As a result of the concerns raised, we are suspending the sleeping arrangements with immediate effect.”

Shelley Miller, from the Lonehill Residents Association, said that since lockdown began, there were four Fidelity officers who were accommodated at a film studio in an office in Lonehill.

“One of the officers who works shifts in the control room is undergoing medical treatment and requested to be accommodated on-site to avoid travelling on public transport. This officer was accommodated in a room on her own. Three other officers who work with her were also accommodated, separately. There are working ablution and kitchen facilities.”

On 15 April, a Fidelity Services Group vehicle was stopped while transporting officers from Lonehill to Soweto. Following this incident, the officers were advised that the vehicle was no longer available to transport officers to Soweto under the Covid-19 regulations.

Miller said that following this incident, a security manager in Lonehill arranged for smaller vehicles to transport five passengers at a time from Soweto to Lonehill.

She added that as an interim measure and to assist those who required assistance, two offices (one of which was an empty one) in the LRA office block were cleared and made available for a further six officers – three in each office with a two-metre space between them.”

Miller added that there were no more than seven to 10 officers (depending on their shifts) accommodated between the three different locations. The branch manager purchased new inflatable mattresses on Friday (17 April) and these officers brought in their own linen. The offices have a kitchen and working ablution facilities. The officers were requested to use the showers at the film studio which is one block away.

“Under no circumstances were Fidelity officers accommodated in toilets. An urgent investigation is being carried out into these claims,” said Miller.