Criminal Background Screening Online in South Africa

Fast, reliable criminal background checks for South African employers. Protect your business with comprehensive pre-employment screening.

Criminal background screening is an essential part of the hiring process in South Africa. Whether you're hiring for a position of trust, working with vulnerable groups, or simply want to ensure workplace safety, verifying a candidate's criminal history helps you make informed hiring decisions.

Why Criminal Background Screening Matters

Workplace Safety

Protect employees, customers, and assets by identifying candidates with violent or theft-related criminal histories.

Legal Compliance

Many industries require background checks for regulatory compliance, including finance, healthcare, and childcare.

Reduce Liability

Negligent hiring claims can be costly. Background screening demonstrates due diligence in your hiring process.

Protect Reputation

One bad hire can damage your company's reputation. Screen candidates to protect your brand.

Types of Criminal Checks Available

Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

2-4 weeks

Official SAPS clearance certificate showing criminal record status. Required for immigration, employment in regulated industries, and visa applications.

Fingerprint requiredOfficial documentSAPS verified

Criminal Record Check

24-48 hours

Faster criminal record search for employment screening purposes. Checks against available criminal databases for pending cases and convictions.

ID number requiredConsent requiredFor employment

International Criminal Check

5-10 days

For candidates who have lived or worked abroad. Checks criminal records in foreign jurisdictions through authorized channels.

Multiple countriesPassport requiredCountry-specific

Industries Requiring Background Checks

Banking & Finance

Healthcare

Education

Security Services

Childcare

Legal Services

Government

Transport & Logistics

Retail (Cash handling)

Legal Considerations in South Africa

Important: POPIA Compliance

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), employers must:

Obtain written consent before conducting checks
Only process information relevant to the position
Securely store and protect screening results
Give candidates opportunity to respond to findings

Can You Reject Based on Criminal Record?

Employers can consider criminal records in hiring decisions, but must ensure the decision is fair and not discriminatory. The criminal record should be relevant to the position applied for. For example, a fraud conviction may be relevant for a finance position but not for a warehouse role.

How Online Screening Works

Submit Request

Provide candidate's ID number and consent form through our secure portal.

Database Search

We search criminal databases and court records for matching records.

Verification

Results are verified for accuracy before being compiled into a report.

Receive Report

Download your detailed background screening report from the dashboard.

Start Screening Candidates Today

VerifyNow provides fast, reliable criminal background checks for South African employers. Protect your business with comprehensive pre-employment screening.

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