CSI Africa

What CSI Africa does

CSI Africa (Pty) Ltd is a Pretoria-based private forensic investigation and background screening company founded in 2002, operating nationwide across South Africa through its owned footprint (Pretoria headquarters and Centurion branch) and a network of over 20 authorized Capture Partners covering all nine provinces. The company delivers three core service pillars: background screening and verification (individual and bulk checks against SAPS criminal records, Department of Home Affairs biometric identity, CIPC company registries, and three credit bureaus), private and forensic investigations (surveillance, forensic accounting led by a Certified Fraud Examiner, fingerprinting with 12+ years of case experience, and digital forensics including cryptocurrency and network investigations), and risk management (ISO 9001/14001/18788/22301/27001/45001 consulting, internal controls, risk advisory, and vendor audits). Supporting services include SAPFED- and American Polygraph Association-accredited polygraph testing, SACE registration assistance, criminal record expungement, and Sexual Offenders Register checks.

Name

CSI Africa

Legal name

CSI Africa (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://csinvestigate.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CSI Africa is a Pretoria-headquartered, SAPS-authorized background screening and forensic investigation firm serving South African employers, individuals, legal/law enforcement clients, and educators via a proprietary MyScreening platform and a nationwide Capture Partner network across all nine provinces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Background Screening & Investigation Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services (56161)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320)

akta.pro primary industry

Pre-Employment Background Checks & Screening (BPAKAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Criminal Background Checks (National/State/County) (BPACALAA), Forensic Accounting & Fraud Investigations (BPAHANAH), Investigations & Background Screening Services (IMAIAEAK)

Keywords

• Background screening services
• Polygraph testing services
• Forensic investigations
• Digital forensics services
• Risk management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Pretoria

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Background Screening Services: Individual and bulk background checks including credit checks, ID verification, criminal record checks, driver's license verification, social media reports, sanctions/PEP checks, and employment verification. Sold as one-time transactions or through subscription-like bulk arrangements.
2. Polygraph Testing Services: Pre-employment, diagnostic, periodic, and domestic polygraph testing services. Conducted by examiners accredited by SAPFED and American Polygraph Association.
3. Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination: Financial investigation services including asset tracing, money laundering investigations, expert testimony, and internal control evaluations. Led by Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
4. Digital Forensics: Computer forensics, cell phone forensics, cryptocurrency investigations, network forensics, and cloud forensics. Includes Anton Piller orders and search and seizure handling.
5. Private Investigations: Surveillance, counter-surveillance, witness examinations, data analysis, and testimony verification for corporate, civil, and criminal cases.
6. Criminal Record Expungement: Assistance with criminal record expungement applications, including eligibility consultation and application processing.
7. SACE Registration Assistance: Help with South African Council of Educators registration and renewal, including obtaining police clearance reports.
8. ISO Management Systems: Gap analysis, design, development, implementation, and maintenance of ISO management systems (ISO 9001, 14001, 18788, 22301, 27001, 45001).
9. Police Clearance Certificates: Facilitation of SAPS 365 Police Clearance Certificate applications with 6-8 week turnaround compared to months via direct SAPS application.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CSI Africa provides background screening, verification, and forensic investigation services to employers and individuals across South Africa. Core offerings include pre-employment background checks, criminal record and police clearance certificates, polygraph (lie detector) testing, private and corporate investigations, digital forensics, fraud examination, and risk management/ISO consulting. The company operates its own MyScreening platform for bulk background checks and uses a nationwide Capture Partner network for fingerprint capture and data collection.

Product overview

CSI Africa is a Pretoria-based investigative and screening services company established in 2002, offering a portfolio of products organized around three core pillars: background screening, forensic investigations, and risk management. The flagship software product is MyScreening (including the MyScreening Vault submodule), which serves as the primary platform for bulk background checks and centralized candidate data storage. The screening portfolio includes individual verification products (ID Verification, Photo-Enhanced ID Verification, Credit Checks via ITC/TransUnion/XDS, Risk Assessment, Sanctions & PEP Check, Social Media Reports, Driver's License Verification, Vehicle Ownership, Contact Trace, Marital Status, Outstanding Traffic Fines, Company Directors, Disqualified Director, Combined Credit, SAFPS Fraud Check) alongside higher-level services (Police Clearance Certificate with 4-6 week turnaround, Police Clearance Report with 1-hour turnaround, Fingerprint Criminal Record Check). The forensic investigation offerings encompass Private Investigations, Fingerprinting & Forensic Investigation, Digital Forensics (covering cryptocurrency and network forensics), and Expert Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination. Risk management services include ISO Management Systems consulting (ISO 9001, 14001, 18788, 22301, 27001, 45001), Processes and Internal Controls, Risk Management Advisory, and Vendor & Provider Audits. Supporting services include Polygraph Testing (accredited by SAPFED and APA), SACE Registration Assistance, Criminal Record Expungement, and Sexual Offenders Check.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• myScreening: A bulk background screening tool that lets users screen staff, job applicants, and clients from desktop and mobile devices. Includes individual and bulk checks, verification services, and centralized storage of candidate profiles.
• myScreening Vault

Quantifiable outcome

• Police Clearance Certificate processing reduced from 3-6 months to 4-6 weeks
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.

• South African Police Service (SAPS)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2002Official authorized partner for criminal record checks. CSI Africa facilitates Police Clearance Certificate applications through SAPS Criminal Records Centre in Pretoria. All criminal background verification flows through SAPS database.
• Department of Home AffairscoreTechnology or IntegrationDirect connection to Home Affairs systems for ID verification, biometric data verification, and identity authentication. Enables real-time ID validation.
• AfiswitchcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized private company sanctioned by SAPS to conduct fingerprint-based background checks. CSI Africa is a reseller of Afiswitch police clearance reports, enabling rapid criminal record verification.
• SACE (South African Council of Educators)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSI Africa provides SACE registration and renewal assistance, including police clearance certificate procurement for educators. Acts as facilitated intermediary for membership applications.
• TEBA Pty LtdmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFingerprint Capture Partner with multiple locations in Welkom, Klerksdorp, Johannesburg, Carletonville, and Rustenburg. Performs fingerprint capture and submits to CSI Africa for processing.
• TFS AfricamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFingerprint Capture Partner located in Cape Town (Strand). Provides local criminal record check services for Western Cape region.
• CSG SecuritymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurity and risk management company operating as Capture Partner in Cape Town, Nelspruit, and Durban. ISO 9001:2015 certified company offering fingerprinting and screening services.
• CIS InvestigationsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate Investigation Company established 1995, operating as Capture Partner in Bloemfontein. Covers Free State province including Edenburg, Fauresmith, Kimberley, Reddersburg, Springfontein, Trompsburg, and Welkom.
• CVI South AfricaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCapture Partner in Krugersdorp and Johannesburg area providing fingerprinting and screening services for Gauteng region.
• Vision Polygraph ServicesregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPolygraph services provider operating in Greater Johannesburg area, covering Heidelberg, Potchefstroom, Sasolburg, Vanderbijlpark, and Vereeniging.
• LieTechregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCapture Partner in Bellville, Cape Town covering Bloubergstrand, Blue Downs, Kampsbaai, Kayelithia, Matroosfontein, and Simonskloof.
• TransUnioncoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit bureau providing credit check data integrated into CSI Africa's background screening platform.
• ITC (Independent Transacting Consortium)coreTechnology or IntegrationCredit bureau providing credit check data for background screening services.
• XDS Credit BureaucoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit bureau providing credit check data for screening services.
• CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission)coreTechnology or IntegrationDirect connection for company director verification, company credit checks, and disqualified director status lookups.
• SAPFED (Southern African Polygraph Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional body providing peer review mechanism for polygraph examiners. CSI Africa's polygraphists are members of SAPFED and accredited by the American Polygraph Association.
• American Polygraph Association (APA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational accreditation body for polygraph training and certification. CSI Africa's polygraphists are APA-accredited. APA maintains list of accredited training schools.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FTI Consulting: FTI Consulting's Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment provides fraud investigations, forensic accounting, and digital forensics. Comparable on forensic accounting and digital forensics services, with a global Big-4-adjacent delivery model.
• Pinkerton: Pinkerton is a global security and investigations firm offering background screening, corporate investigations, and security consulting. Comparable on the investigations and screening portfolio, with broader geographic and enterprise reach than CSI Africa.
• Control Risks: Control Risks is a global risk consultancy providing political risk, integrity due diligence, investigations, and security consulting. Overlaps with CSI Africa's private investigations and ISO/risk advisory offerings, particularly for corporate and legal clients.
• Kroll: Kroll is a global investigations, risk consulting, and due diligence firm offering corporate investigations, forensic accounting, and cyber investigations. Comparable on private investigations and forensic accounting services, but operates globally at much larger scale.
• Sterling Check: Sterling is a US-headquartered global background and identity verification provider offering employment screening, criminal checks, and credentialing. Overlaps with CSI Africa's employer screening offering but at enterprise and multinational scale.
• HireRight: HireRight is a large global background screening provider serving multinational employers with employment background checks, criminal records, and compliance screening. Comparable on product and customer type, but operates at much greater scale and geographic breadth than CSI Africa.

Emerging players

• Checkr: Checkr is a tech-led US background screening platform with API-first architecture serving gig economy and enterprise employers. Comparable on background screening category but differentiated by technology stack and US market focus.

Direct peers

• Managed Integrity Evaluation (MIE): MIE is South Africa's largest dedicated background screening provider, offering pre-employment checks, criminal record, credit, and integrity screening. Most directly comparable competitor in the local screening market, with similar employer and individual customer segments.
• iFacts: iFacts is a South African background screening and vetting company providing pre-employment screening, criminal record checks, credit checks, and driver screening. Competes head-to-head with CSI Africa in the SA employer screening segment.
• Truth Verification (South Africa): A South African polygraph and integrity testing provider offering pre-employment lie detector tests and forensic credibility assessments. Comparable on the polygraph testing service line, in the same SAPFED- and APA-accredited ecosystem as CSI Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookweb.facebook.com/CSIAfrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csi-africa

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CSI Africa