SAPS Clearance Records Roodepoort

A SAPS Police Clearance Certificate (also called the SAPS 365) is an official document issued by the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management division of the South African Police Service in Pretoria, confirming whether or not a criminal conviction has been recorded against the applicant. Roodepoort applicants have their fingerprints taken on the SAPS 91(a) form at any local SAPS station and pay the prescribed R190 fee (in cash at the station or by electronic transfer to ABSA account 4054522787, branch code 632005, reference “PCC” plus initials and surname), after which the local station forwards the file to the Pretoria-based Criminal Record Centre at no additional cost to the applicant; standard finalisation is approximately 15 working days from receipt of all required documents, although CR & CSM is currently working through a backlog that extends the realistic waiting period. A separate document — the Police Clearance Report (PCR), issued by any Local Criminal Record Centre at R95 — is used to support an application for expungement of a prior criminal record under section 271 of the Criminal Procedure Act, which is where Burger Huyser Attorneys’ criminal law practice typically becomes involved through its Roodepoort branch at 16 Galena Avenue, Helderkruin (011 668 0030).

What a SAPS Clearance Record Is, and the Two Documents That Carry the Name

The colloquial “SAPS clearance record” actually covers two distinct documents with different uses, fees, and issuing offices. For most Roodepoort applicants the application is a self-service administrative step that runs directly with SAPS — the law firm comes in only when the matter moves beyond the routine fingerprint-and-submit process.

• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC / SAPS 365) — used for emigration, overseas employment, travel, and visa applications; issued by Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management in Pretoria at a prescribed fee of R190 per application.
• Police Clearance Report (PCR) — used as the supporting document for an application to expunge a prior criminal record; issued by any Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) at a prescribed fee of R95 per report.

A clean PCC simply states whether or not a criminal conviction has been recorded against the applicant; a PCR is the building block of a formal expungement application under section 271 of the Criminal Procedure Act and is normally paired with legal work.

The Difference Between a PCC and a PCR

Document	Purpose	Fee	Where It Is Issued
PCC (SAPS 365)	Emigration, overseas work, visa, travel	R190 (non-refundable)	Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management, Pretoria
PCR	Supporting document for expungement under section 271 of the Criminal Procedure Act	R95	Any Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC)

How to Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate from Roodepoort

Roodepoort applicants lodge the application at any South African Police Service station in the Roodepoort policing area — the local station is the intake point only; the certificate itself is processed and issued in Pretoria.

1. Visit any SAPS station in the Roodepoort policing area with your South African ID or passport.
2. Request a Police Clearance Certificate application — a SAPS officer will take your fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form (digital prints are not accepted by the Criminal Record Centre).
3. Complete the official SAPS application form, or write a signed letter including surname, maiden name (if applicable), given names, date of birth, place of birth, SA ID number, last residential address in South Africa, last SA business/employer address with telephone, your overseas mailing address, postal code, and phone number.
4. Pay the R190 prescribed fee — cash at the station or electronic transfer to the SAPS ABSA cheque account 4054522787, branch code 632005, Swift code ABSAZAJJXXX, reference “PCC” + initials + surname.
5. Submit the application; the police station will forward it to CR & CSM in Pretoria at no additional cost to you.
6. Retain your reference number and either your SA cell number (for SMS confirmation and completion notice) or your ID number and surname (for online enquiry via the SAPS portal).

Documents You Will Need

• Full set of fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form, taken by a SAPS officer.
• Completed SAPS Police Clearance Certificate application form (or the signed letter described above).
• Certified copy of your South African ID or passport — the original must be presented at the police station for identity verification.
• Proof of payment of the R190 fee.
• Where a maiden surname or alternative surname is required on the certificate, a certified copy of the marriage certificate or other documentary proof.

Costs, Banking Details, and Current Processing Times

Item	Detail
Prescribed fee	R190 per application, non-refundable
Banking details for electronic payment	ABSA cheque account 4054522787, branch code 632005, Swift code ABSAZAJJXXX, in favour of the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service. Reference must be “PCC” followed by the applicant’s initials and surname.
Standard finalisation	Approximately 15 working days from receipt of all required documents at CR & CSM, excluding postal time
Current reality	CR & CSM has publicly acknowledged a backlog that extends the realistic waiting period beyond the 15-working-day target. In-person applications can take up to three months; overseas applications three to six months.
Collection window	Certificates not collected within three months of finalisation are destroyed — arrange prompt collection or nominate a courier on the application form.
Track progress	SMS notifications are sent to SA cell numbers on receipt and on completion. Online status enquiries can be lodged at saps.gov.za/services/certificate.php using either a reference number plus SA ID, or surname plus date of birth.

Where the Application Is Actually Finalised — the Pretoria Layer

Every Police Clearance Certificate issued to a South African applicant — including those lodged at Roodepoort SAPS stations — is processed by the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management division (CR & CSM) in Pretoria. The local police station acts as the fingerprint and intake point, not the issuing authority. This routing applies to applicants anywhere in the country and to South Africans abroad.

When a Criminal Law Attorney Becomes Useful

For most Roodepoort applicants the PCC step is self-service and does not require an attorney — the application is an administrative process run by the applicant and SAPS. Burger Huyser Attorneys’ criminal law practice typically becomes involved where the matter has moved past the routine administrative step, in three common situations:

• Expungement applications — the PCR is a supporting document, but the substantive application is a legal process under section 271 of the Criminal Procedure Act and is drafted and lodged by an attorney on the applicant’s behalf.
• “Wanted” status blocks the certificate — if the applicant is flagged as Wanted by SAPS, no PCC will be issued. This is a legal problem, not an administrative one, and may involve warrants, withdrawals, or formal representations to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
• Stalled or lost applications — where the standard timeline has passed without finalisation, the SAPS enquiry portal and CR & CSM contact line have not produced a resolution, and a formal follow-up is required.

The firm’s Roodepoort branch is led by Director Nadine Roesch-Prinsloo and can field these instructions. The broader firm’s Criminal Law consultants — Clinton Shaw (Criminal Law, specialising in assault matters) and Abrie van der Merwe (Criminal Law, Linden) — are available where specialist input is required, so a denied or delayed clearance file does not have to wait for a Pretoria referral before it moves.

Applying from Outside South Africa

South African citizens abroad apply at any police station in the country where they reside, or at a South African Embassy or consulate. Fingerprints must be taken on the official fingerprint forms of the country in question or, where available, on the SAPS 91(a) form. The completed file is forwarded directly to CR & CSM in Pretoria for processing — embassies and high commissions do not handle the application or progress enquiries, on security and privacy grounds.

Processing time from abroad typically runs three to six months given the additional postal and courier legs. The certificate is returned by prepaid courier to the overseas address given in the application; certificates are not emailed or scanned.

What to Do If the Application Is Delayed, Denied, or Lost

A stalled or denied SAPS clearance application is the moment the administrative step tips into a legal problem. The escalation path for Roodepoort applicants:

1. Use the SAPS online enquiry portal at saps.gov.za/services/certificate.php with your reference number plus SA ID number (or surname plus date of birth).
2. Contact CR & CSM directly on 012 393 3928 or at [email protected].
3. Where an applicant is flagged as “Wanted” by SAPS, no PCC will be issued — this is the most common reason for denial and is a legal matter requiring attorney intervention.
4. Certificates not collected within three months of finalisation are destroyed; if you cannot collect in person, nominate a courier or trusted contact on the application form at the outset.
5. If your application has been missing in the system for longer than the realistic waiting period and you have exhausted the standard enquiry channels, a formal follow-up through a criminal law attorney can move the matter forward — the firm’s Roodepoort branch can be reached on 011 668 0030.

This is where Burger Huyser Attorneys’ criminal law practice fits the Roodepoort file: the routine PCC is the applicant’s own work with SAPS, but a denial, an unexplained delay, or an expungement-driven PCR is the legal layer the firm is set up to handle through Director Nadine Roesch-Prinsloo and the wider Criminal Law team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I apply for a SAPS Clearance Certificate in Roodepoort?

You apply at any South African Police Service station in the Roodepoort policing area. The station will take your fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form, accept the R190 prescribed fee or proof of payment, and forward your file to the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management division in Pretoria at no additional cost. The certificate itself is not issued by the local station — every PCC is finalised in Pretoria.

How much does a SAPS Police Clearance Certificate cost and how do I pay?

The prescribed fee is R190 per application, non-refundable. You can pay in cash at the police station or by electronic transfer to the SAPS ABSA cheque account 4054522787, branch code 632005, Swift code ABSAZAJJXXX, in favour of the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, with the reference “PCC” followed by your initials and surname.

How long does it take to get a SAPS Clearance Certificate from Roodepoort?

The standard finalisation time is approximately 15 working days from the date CR & CSM in Pretoria receives all required documents, excluding postal time. CR & CSM is currently working through a backlog that extends the realistic waiting period; recent third-party guidance puts in-person applications at up to three months and overseas applications at three to six months. Once issued, certificates not collected within three months are destroyed.

What is the difference between a Police Clearance Certificate and a Police Clearance Report?

A Police Clearance Certificate (also called the SAPS 365) is used for emigration, overseas employment, travel, and visa applications, is issued by CR & CSM in Pretoria, and costs R190. A Police Clearance Report is a separate document used to support an application for expungement of a prior criminal record under section 271 of the Criminal Procedure Act, is issued by any Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), and costs R95.

Can Burger Huyser Attorneys help me apply for a SAPS Police Clearance Certificate?

The routine PCC step is a self-service administrative process handled directly with SAPS — an attorney is not normally required for the application itself. Burger Huyser Attorneys’ criminal law practice becomes useful where the matter has moved beyond routine administration: a Police Clearance Report used as part of a formal expungement application, a denial because of a “Wanted” status, or a stalled application that needs formal follow-up. The firm’s Roodepoort branch can field these instructions on 011 668 0030.

Where is the nearest Burger Huyser branch to Roodepoort, and what are its hours?

Burger Huyser Attorneys has a branch at 16 Galena Avenue, Helderkruin, Roodepoort, 1724 (telephone 011 668 0030, after-hours 061 516 0091). Office hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm. The Roodepoort office takes instructions on criminal law matters through the firm’s broader practice, with Director Nadine Roesch-Prinsloo overseeing the branch.

Speak to Burger Huyser Attorneys’ Roodepoort branch about a denied, delayed, or expungement-linked SAPS clearance file. If your Police Clearance Certificate application has stalled, has been denied because of a “Wanted” status, or you need a Police Clearance Report as the foundation for a formal expungement application under section 271 of the Criminal Procedure Act, the firm’s Roodepoort office can take instructions at 16 Galena Avenue, Helderkruin (telephone 011 668 0030, after-hours 061 516 0091). Director Nadine Roesch-Prinsloo oversees the Roodepoort branch, which coordinates with the firm’s broader Criminal Law team — including consultant Clinton Shaw — for assault and related matters. Burger Huyser Attorneys carries a 4.8/5 average across 250+ Google reviews (Trustindex verified “Top Rated Law Firm in South Africa”) and fields this work from offices across Gauteng.