Hiring the wrong person is expensive. Checking the right things, lawfully and with the candidate on side, is not complicated when the process is built properly.
The three checks that matter for most hires
Identity verification confirms that the ID number and name belong to the person in front of you, checked against the official record. Criminal record checks are performed through SAPS by an accredited screening bureau using captured fingerprints. Qualification verification confirms a stated qualification with the institution that awarded it or against the SAQA national record.
Consent is not optional, so we built it in
Under the Protection of Personal Information Act, an employer needs explicit, informed consent before running a background check on a candidate. Penalties for getting this wrong reach R10 million. On Nasi Ispani the employer requests a check, the candidate sees exactly what is being asked and allows or declines it in their own profile, and only then is the check submitted and the employer’s credits used.
What we do not do, and why
We do not offer general credit checks, because the National Credit Act restricts them to roles with real financial responsibility. We do not offer polygraph testing, which South African labour rulings have found unlawful as a blanket hiring requirement. Being straight about the limits is part of being a service you can rely on.
Paid from the same credits you already use
Background checks are paid for with the same contact credits used for candidate search, so there is no separate account to open. If a candidate declines, no credits are spent.
Questions employers ask
Do I need the candidate's permission?
Yes. South African law requires explicit, informed consent before any background check. On Nasi Ispani the candidate is asked to allow each check individually, and nothing runs until they agree.
How fast is a criminal record check?
An identity check is close to instant. A criminal record check is not: it goes through SAPS using captured fingerprints via an accredited bureau, so turnaround depends on SAPS. Any service promising an instant criminal record is worth questioning.
What can I check?
Identity verification against the Home Affairs record, a SAPS criminal record check, and qualification verification against the awarding institution or the SAQA national record.
Can I run a credit check?
Not through Nasi Ispani. The National Credit Act limits credit checks to roles with genuine financial responsibility, so we deliberately do not offer them as a general hiring tool.
What happens if a candidate says no?
Nothing is checked and you are not charged. Candidates are free to decline, and we tell them plainly that declining is their right.
Get started
Open the Employer Hub to post a vacancy, search candidates or request a background check.