Criminal Record Checks in South Africa

Criminal Record Checks

Are you not sure how criminal record checks work or how to check your criminal status in South Africa? We can help with a comprehensive criminal record check which will provide a full criminal history.

Should a client be unsure of the status of their criminal record or should any individual simply wish to confirm that they do not have any criminal record, SDF Attorneys are able to perform a full background check on such a client, the results of which will be available within 48 hours of such a request being received.

Most South African citizens are not aware that there are in fact two criminal record databases in South Africa. The first is the Criminal Record Centre (CRC) in Pretoria which houses the national criminal record database. A check requested from the CRC would be based on a candidate’s fingerprints and would only display actual convictions. Such a check is called a “police clearance certificate” or a “fingerprint clearance” and the results can take up to 6 weeks to obtain.

The second check is an electronic check performed through the South African Police Service database (AFIS/CAS system). This check is based on a fast digital fingerprint scan matched to the candidate's ID number. It provides a comprehensive view of all charges brought against them, whether pending, awaiting trial, withdrawn, or convicted. This check can be done relatively quickly (24 to 48 hours) and will give the client an excellent idea of exactly what is on their record without having to wait for a physical Police Clearance Certificate.

SDF Attorneys charge a once-off, all-inclusive fee for this service. Such a fee is payable upfront and will be refunded if the criminal background check cannot be completed for whatever reason.

POPIA Compliance & Privacy Safeguard In strict accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), criminal checks are entirely consent-driven. Your special personal data is protected with bank-grade encryption and will be permanently deleted once your secure status report has been delivered to you. Your personal and fingerprint data will be securely routed through an accredited gateway to be verified against the South African Police Service (SAPS) database.

Fees