UMLINDI SECURITY: A New Guardian for SA Business

Responsibility. Tendai Mtawarira has been shouldering it for years. A Bok icon, a symbol of the country’s world-famous rugby team, and a driving force behind South Africa’s success on the field. His 117 international caps make him one of the most capped forwards of all time, and his Gold medal from the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Tokyo has fixed him in South African sporting folklore – the Beast is responsible for success.

But, following his retirement in 2019 – when most sports people rest recuperate and look for an easier life after years of commitment to their trade – Mtawarira is again taking on responsibility. This time, the project is not an easy undertaking. The weight of responsibility is heavy.

Establishing Umlindi Security in 2020, Mtawarira is partnering with Fidelity Services Group to provide modern, expert protection services to clients all over the country. A brand ambassador for Fidelity for almost a decade, Mtawarira is familiar with the company and knew quickly that a move into the security industry was right. With Fidelity behind him, supporting him personally and in business, the Beast is ready to stand as guardian.

HARMONY AND PEACE

“I have always been a protective individual by nature,” he tells Enterprise Africa confidently and assertively. “I am hugely protective of my family and friends, and I always want to make sure there is harmony and peace wherever I am at. Security fits well because you are doing something for a greater good and protecting people and their livelihoods. You are making the world a safer place and that resonates with me in a big way.

“I want to amplify that and make sure that people in South Africa feel safer. We live in a country where crime is a problem and it can be quite scary, especially for young families. I want to promote safety and it is now my passion. I love what I am doing, and I am not here solely for profits – we have a much bigger purpose.”

 South Africa has one of the worlds largest private security industries with some suggesting that as many as two million people are directly and indirectly supported by the sector. It is larger than the police and military combined, and the country is now home to many of the top international brands.

Fidelity Services Group is one of the largest, taking a big step forward with its acquisition of ADT in 2016. Mtawarira met Fidelity CEO Wahl Bartmann while working on advertising campaigns for the company. The pair hit it off instantly. Bartmann, a rugby fan, was keen to explore opportunities for Mtawarira as the two built a lasting relationship.

“I began working a lot on promotions with the company,” remember Mtawarira. “My image fitted with the security business and it went well. I was offered shares in Fidelity and bought in. From there, I took part in an induction and found out more about what the security industry is all about. I knew that it was something I enjoy and I prepared for security as a career for a long time.”

“Tendai has been a part of the Fidelity for close on nine years now as our brand ambassador and I have enjoyed my time as his mentor while we have collaborated on a number of projects which have all been successful. It was only a matter of time before the skills he gained would assist him to start his own company,” said Bartmann.

He has been enrolled on an MBA with Henley Business School and will learn while developing the new business. Initially, the target will be to secure corporate clients and initiate guarding and technology operations for those who share the values of ‘Brand Beast’.

“When I retired, the plan was to start a SMME that I could run and we started Umlindi last year. I took the reins as CEO to grow the company and go out and find as many customers as possible. It was empowerment in a big way for me. I always wanted to have something of my own and it has been going really well.”

BACKED BY THE BEST

Currently, Mtawarira partners as a shareholder with Fidelity and will continue to act as a brand ambassador. Together the two firms aim to pioneer next-generation physical and digital asset protection solutions. Umlindi Security is driving a new energy across the industry which has become saturated with more than 9000 registered companies.

“We have two offices but we operate everywhere in South Africa. Wherever Fidelity operates, we are also there,” confirms Mtawarira. “We are now sitting with more than 200 guards and there is huge room for improvement. We are always looking for new business and my mandate is to go out and use my brand as leverage when talking to clients so we can show them that we are a business that is fully compliant and founded on integrity.”

With the backing of Fidelity, Umlindi can provide guarding, cash management, monitoring and response, fleet management and tracking, business security and sensormatic, cleaning and hygiene, and fire detection and suppression. As the business grows, the number of services will expand as Mtawarira looks to build a complete end-to-end solution for clients.

“Fidelity provides us with infrastructure and manpower alongside skills and expertise. I am new in this space and so I have surrounded myself with the correct mentors. Wahl mentors me and shows me the most effective ways to operate in this industry. We are looking to grow to a stage where we are our own vehicle but for now, we do rely on Fidelity,” he says.

“Our main focus is to expand in South Africa – that is our primary focus, particularly in the corporate space. We want to try and be aggressive and get as much traction as possible while building a strong reputation among clients. Word of mouth is really powerful and it is a small world; if you do something great for one corporate, it will lead to success with others.”

VIRTUAL BEGINNINGS

Unfortunately, even the power of the Beast could not hurdle the challenges put up by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sports stars were not immune from the non-discriminatory virus which wreaked havoc across the country through 2020 and 2021, with major impacts still being felt by the population and business community. A key strategy in the growth of Umlindi was the ability to get out and stand in front of clients, demonstrating the strength of the Umlindi Zulu shield and the offer of protection for everything around you.

“There have been challenges,” says Mtawarira. “I was wanting to get in front of as many people as possible to give presentations and connect with people so they could understand what we’re doing and buy into it. I didn’t get that luxury as everything moved to the virtual space.

“When you are on a virtual platform, you cannot read people in the same way and that was challenging for us.”

But, as South Africa emerged from its harsh lockdown, the Beast and team were able to capitalise on what had been a reasonably fruitful period, adding new business to the Umlindi portfolio.

“We did thrive, we picked up some good clients. I am studying for my MBA after completing my post graduate study last year. That helped me to navigate the new business environment and get the right skills and knowledge as a CEO. It was great to back at school and working on academic qualifications – that gave me a spring in my step as I walked into the boardroom.”

Active with The Beast Foundation and an ambassador for UNICEF Africa, Mtawarira is busy. His dedicated focus to upliftment is now an inextricable part of Beast life and whether in a philanthropical environment or a corporate boardroom, there is a level of authenticity projected by this ambitious world conqueror.

“We have built relationships with a few good clients but we have a lot of room to grow,” he says. 

For now, the Beast’s subjugating of the security industry will remain within South Africa’s borders and, unlike his rugby endeavours, will not take him international. At home on the Dolphin Coast of KZN, Mtawarira understands South Africa and the unique challenges faced in one of the world’s most prominently unequal societies.

“In terms of going outside of SA, we haven’t made plans,” he confirms. “We are focusing purely on the SA market. Further down the line, we will discuss with the board of directors to see if we can explore different opportunities in Africa.”

FOUNDED ON INTEGRITY

Currently, Umlindi Security is a Level 2 BBBEE company with 73% black ownership. New to the business world but absolutely not to be underestimated, Mtawarira is keen to participate in the biggest contracts as his company blossoms.

“We want to be involved in government tenders and there is a 30% portion of tenders that go to SMMEs that have the correct BEE qualification. We want to be one of those companies and grow significantly in that space.”  

If Mtawarira and Umlindi can successfully navigate government business while growing through word of mouth in the corporate space, it will not take long for South Africans to realise that this servant of the country continues to work hard to achieve results. With many nervous about the nature of private security industry tactics and ever-growing power, and with more completely lacking in trust in the police, this is an area where a business founded on veracity could quickly emerge as an industry leader.

“We are a company that is founded on integrity. We are compliant – that is a big thing for us. We work closely with PSiRA. We have the backing of the biggest in the industry – with a great reputation – that certainly elevates us in a big way. We can take on any type of work, we have no shortage of resources. It doesn’t matter if you are the biggest of corporate organisations, we can provide what you need. If you are a small business, we can also provide a comprehensive service,” Mtawarira summates.

It is obvious that the Beast feels responsibility, and he is certainly ambitious and aggressive about growth. Having given so much for South Africa as an athlete, this entrepreneur is once again at the start of an exciting journey and is bettering himself and those around him. Clearly, the face behind Umlindi Security is one that South Africans can trust to deliver.

“We are putting the message out there that we are open for business and if you need our services, I am at your disposal,” he concludes. Has the Beast been tamed? Not quite yet.