How do I verify a nanny or helper?

On Care4SA, look at the badges: ID reviewed, SAPS document reviewed, address document, listed references, and family reviews. A badge means Care4SA looked at a file the worker uploaded, then deleted the original. It is not a live criminal-record search and not a Home Affairs confirmation. Always interview and take up references yourself.

How do I check a nanny's police clearance in South Africa?

A Police Clearance Certificate is issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS). The worker applies to SAPS, then can upload the document on Care4SA. We review the file and show a badge with dates — we do not obtain the check from SAPS and we do not keep the original after review.

How to verify a nanny or helper in South Africa

Updated 20 August 2026

You may be asking a stranger into your home — with a child, an older parent, a pet, or your house. These badges say exactly what Care4SA has seen. They are not a guarantee of safety.

Care4SA Verified

Care4SA has reviewed both an identity document and a SAPS police-clearance file for this person. After review we delete the original files and keep the badge dates. It is not a guarantee of safety, not a live criminal-record search, and not a check Care4SA obtained from SAPS.

ID reviewed

The worker uploaded a South African ID or passport. A reviewed badge means Care4SA looked at that file on the review date shown on the profile, then deleted the original. We do not keep the ID number and we do not confirm it with Home Affairs.

SAPS document reviewed

The worker uploaded a SAPS police clearance. Care4SA did not obtain the check. A reviewed badge means we looked at that file, then deleted the original. “Reviewed on” is when we looked. “Document dated” is the issue date on the page, if recorded. After 12 months from that issue date we mark it stale — that is a Care4SA rule, not SAPS law.

Address document reviewed

The worker uploaded proof of address. A reviewed badge means Care4SA looked at that file, then deleted the original. We do not keep the street address from the proof. It does not prove they still live there.

References listed

The worker added names of past families or employers. Care4SA has not phoned them. This is not “references checked”.

Family reviewed

At least one verified Care4SA family reviewed this person after both sides confirmed a hire. It is not an anonymous testimonial. Empty means nobody has completed that loop yet — not that they are unsafe.

How a SAPS police clearance actually works

The worker applies to the South African Police Service for a Police Clearance Certificate. Care4SA does not run that process and does not pay SAPS for you. If they upload the certificate, we look at the file, record the issue date when we can, then delete the original. After 12 months from that issue date we mark the badge stale — that is a Care4SA rule, not SAPS law.

What we do not claim

We do not keep original ID, SAPS, or address files after review — only the badge dates.
We do not run a live criminal-record search or a credit-bureau “background check”.
We do not confirm ID numbers with Home Affairs.
We do not phone references unless a later “references checked” badge exists — it does not yet.
Grey badges are missing on purpose. A wall of green on a new profile would be misleading.

Always interview, meet in public first where you can, and do your own checks. See the Safety Centre.

Common questions

How do I verify a nanny or helper?: On Care4SA, look at the badges: ID reviewed, SAPS document reviewed, address document, listed references, and family reviews. A badge means Care4SA looked at a file the worker uploaded, then deleted the original. It is not a live criminal-record search and not a Home Affairs confirmation. Always interview and take up references yourself.
How do I check a nanny's police clearance in South Africa?: A Police Clearance Certificate is issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS). The worker applies to SAPS, then can upload the document on Care4SA. We review the file and show a badge with dates — we do not obtain the check from SAPS and we do not keep the original after review.