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South Africa Employee Background Checks

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Background screening has become increasingly important in South Africa given the rise in resume/CV fraud. In particular, applicants have claimed they possess degrees they never earned or have inflated their job history and experience.

The right to privacy in South Africa is guaranteed by the Constitution. In 2013, the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) was passed representing a comprehensive data privacy law. In April 2014, portions of the legislation were formally proclaimed as taking effect; however, there currently is no commencement date for the remainder of POPI.

POPI was modeled after the European Union Data Protection Directive 95/EC/46. Under the Act, the definition of personal information is quite broad and includes (but is not limited to): race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, address information and medical, financial, criminal, education or employment history. The Act also outlines several principles: Accountability, Processing Limitation, Purpose Specification, Further Processing Limitation, Information Quality, Openness, Security Safeguards and Data Subject Participation. Data subjects also have numerous rights under POPI including the right to object to processing, to access personal information and to request the correction, destruction or deletion of personal information.

Consent is required before processing personal information, thus for background screening purposes, consent should always be collected from the applicant.

For further information, download our South Africa Country Sheet.

 
Individual Records Searches   Signup

  South Africa Criminal Records Search 

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Requirements: Name, Date of Birth, South Africa ID #, Release form

The national criminal record search in South Africa is conducted through law enforcement. This search will report back felony level convictions in the past 7 years. Report may include case type, file date, file location, case number, charge information, disposition information, and sentencing information.

  Professional License Verification 

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This search verifies the individual’s claimed license. Most often, the Professional License Verification simply provides the current status of the license claimed; however, other details such as license number, date of issuance, expiration and disciplinary action will be provided when available.

  South Africa Civil Records Search 

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Requirements: Full name, date of birth, address, SA ID #

This search is conducted at the local level through county court judgments. Report may include case type, file date, case number, name of court where case was filed, plaintiff, defendant and disposition if a case can be located.

  South Africa Bankruptcy Records Search 

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Requirements: Full name, date of birth, SA ID#, and release form

This search is conducted at the local level through the court based on the jurisdiction of the address provided. Report may include file date, case number, name of court where case was filed and case status if a bankruptcy case can be located.

  Education Degree Verification in South Africa 

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Requirements: Name, date of birth, school name, degree, major, dates of attendance, city of school, degree copy and release form

In South Africa it is common to verify only the highest degree obtained by a candidate. Educational institutions will be contacted to verify dates of attendance, graduation date and degree information.

  Employment Verification in South Africa 

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Requirements: Name, date of birth, employer name and contact information, dates of employment, position held and release form

Employers will be contacted to verify the individual’s title, dates of employment and if the candidate is eligible for rehire. Typically employment verifications do not extend beyond a 7 year time frame absent a legal or regulatory requirement to obtain that information. Current employers will only be contacted with express consent from the applicant.

  Reference Check in South Africa 

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Requirements: Applicant name and date of birth, reference's relationship, contact name and contact information (including phone number and email address)

This search is conducted via telephone (or at times e-mail) with the individual’s personal or professional references using a standard list of questions.

  Motor Vehicle Records 

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Requirements: Full name, date of birth, SA ID#, and release form

The motor vehicle records search will confirm the validity of an individual’s Driver’s License and endorsements (if available).

  Credit Report 

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Requirements: Name, DOB, Release, South Africa ID #, Job Title, Job Description

The individual credit report provides a summary of an individual's credit history. Other information provided in the report will include information on the individual's bad debt and collections, trade account information, bankruptcies and court liens or judgments. According to the National Credit Act 34 of 2005, credit information should only be used in employment decisions if the position requires trust and honesty, and is responsible for handling cash and finances.

  Global Monitor Check 

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Requirements: Name, date of birth, address

The Global Monitor Check (GMC) is database product that searches a variety of databases including (but not limited to):

  • • Bank of England Sanctions
  • • Commodity Futures Trading Commission List of Regulatory and Self-Regulatory Authorities
  • • Defense Trade Controls (DTC) Debarred Parties
  • • FBI Fugitives 10 Most Wanted, Most Wanted Terrorists and Monthly Most Wanted
  • • Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Special Alert List
  • • Foreign Agent Registrations
  • • International Police Most Wanted
  • • Office of Foreign Asset Control
  • • OFAC - Enhanced Sanctioned Countries
  • • OFAC – Palestinian Legislative Council
  • • Office of Controller of Currency of Unauthorized Banks
  • • OSFI - Canada
  • • Politically Exposed Persons
  • • State Department Terrorist Exclusions
  • • Terrorists Inside of European Union
  • • Terrorists Outside of European Union
  • • United Nations Named Terrorists
  • • US Bureau of Industry and Security - Unverified Entity List
  • • US Bureau of Industry and Security - Denied Entity List
  • • US Bureau of Industry and Security - Denied Person List
  • • World Bank Ineligible Firms

  ID Check in South Africa 

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Requirements: Name, DOB, Address, Consent Form, Identification Card Color Copy (Front and Back)

A validation and/or verification of the data subject’s identity documents.

  Directorship Check in South Africa 

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Requirements: Name, date of birth, address, passport copy, company name where directorship was held, company address, In-Country Residence History Form

A search to determine if a candidate had fiduciary or board of directors responsibilities for a company.

Individual Packages   Signup

  Employment Screening Package 

  signup

Requirements: Name, date of birth, city, school name, degree obtained, dates of attendance, city of school, employer name and contact information, dates of employment, position and release form

The employment screening package provides discounted pricing rather than ordering individual products. The package Includes:

  • - Criminal Background Check
  • - Highest Degree Verification
  • - One Employment Verification

  Criminal and Civil Search Package 

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Requirements: Name (including former name), dob, address, release

The Criminal and Civil Search Package offers discounted pricing of our most popular searches. This bundle includes one criminal records search and one civil records search, based on the jurisdiction of the address provided.

  Civil and Bankruptcy Search Package 

  signup

Requirements: Name (including former name), dob, address, release

The Civil and Bankruptcy Search Package offers discounted pricing of our most popular due diligence searches. This bundle includes one civil records search and one bankruptcy records search, based on the jurisdiction of the address provided.

 

South Africa Police Record


Available. Criminal records since 1901 covering the entire Republic are maintained at the South African Police Headquarters, Pretoria. The period The Commissioner of the South African Police issues certificates upon application, stating whether or not a criminal record exists, and, if so, particulars of the offense as well as any sentence passed.

The police authorities require an applicant to present verification of identity, such as a Book of Life, or valid passport, and a payment of R41.00 (South African rand forty one payable in cash, check or postal order, made payable to the South African police).

To obtain a certificate that is issued in single copy only, fingerprints must be taken by the local police in the applicant's place of residence. The South African police forward the completed fingerprint chart and the fee to the head office in Pretoria for issuance of the police clearance certificate. If the applicant is residing in the United States, he or she should forward a bank draft in the amount of R41.00 together with a completed fingerprint chart (bearing an official signature and stamp of the local police station) to:

  • South African Police Service
  • Criminal Record Centre
  • Private Bang X308

  • Pretoria 0001, South Africa

Alternatively, he/she should authorize a friend/relative in South Africa to submit the application on behalf of the applicant.

 

South Africa Privacy Laws & Regulation


The right to privacy in South Africa is guaranteed by the Constitution. In 2013, the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI) was passed representing a comprehensive data privacy law. In April 2014, portions of the legislation were formally proclaimed as taking effect; however, there currently is no commencement date for the remainder of POPI.

POPI was modeled after the European Union Data Protection Directive 95/EC/46. Under the Act, the definition of personal information is quite broad and includes (but is not limited to): race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, address information and medical, financial, criminal, education or employment history. The Act also outlines several principles: Accountability, Processing Limitation, Purpose Specification, Further Processing Limitation, Information Quality, Openness, Security Safeguards and Data Subject Participation. Data subjects also have numerous rights under POPI including the right to object to processing, to access personal information and to request the correction, destruction or deletion of personal information.

Consent is required before processing personal information, thus for background screening purposes, consent should always be collected from the applicant.

 

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