Missing Persons Investigations try to locate someone who has gone missing or lost contact. If you believe someone is in danger, report it to SAPS immediately. There is no waiting period. Send one request and independent investigators reply with availability and prices.
Give the person's first name and last known area, and get tracing quotes.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteWhat It Involves
- Record searches. Address, employment and other lawful database traces.
- Enquiries. Speaking to family, friends, employers and neighbours.
- Open sources. Social media and online activity.
- Field work. Visiting last known addresses, hospitals and shelters.
Who It Helps
Families of runaway teenagers or adults who have cut contact, people searching for a lost relative or birth parent, and attorneys tracing heirs or witnesses. Investigators can work alongside an open SAPS case.
What to Send First
- The person's name and last known town or area.
- When they were last seen or heard from.
- Whether a SAPS case has been opened.
- A safe way to contact you.
Do not send ID copies, photos or medical details through the form. The investigator will ask for what is needed.
How It Works
- Intake. The investigator gathers history, contacts and recent activity.
- Traces. Lawful database and open-source searches.
- Field enquiries. Interviews and visits to likely locations.
- Report. Findings, leads followed and, if found, how contact is handled.
Limits
Investigators may not intercept calls or messages, access phones, email or social media accounts, place tracking devices on vehicles you do not own, or obtain bank, phone or medical records without consent or a court order. An adult who chooses to cut contact has a right to privacy, so an investigator may confirm the person is safe without sharing their address. Not every person can be found.
Missing Persons Investigations Prices
Ballpark prices so you can sanity-check a quotation.
| Item | Ballpark price |
|---|---|
| Basic missing person trace | R7,000 - R20,000 |
| Complex or long-running search | R13,000 - R44,000 |
| Multi-province work | From R70,000 |
| Investigator hourly rate | R500 - R2,000 per hour |
Prices JUST UPDATED. Indicative ballpark figures in rand, rounded. They are compiled from prices published by South African investigation firms and typical market rates. They are not our prices or quotations, and no investigator is bound by them. Confirm VAT, travel and what each quotation includes.
Get a price for your search rather than a range. Send one request, with no obligation.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteWhat Affects the Price
- Time since last contact. Older trails take longer.
- Information available. An ID number and recent contacts shorten the search.
- Travel. Searches across provinces or abroad cost more.
- Field work. Physical enquiries cost more than desk traces.
Missing Persons Investigations FAQs
Do I have to wait 24 hours before reporting someone missing?
No. SAPS accepts missing person reports immediately.
Can a private investigator work with the police?
Yes. An investigator can follow leads alongside an open case and pass information to the investigating officer.
Will you give me the person's address?
If the person is an adult who does not want contact, the investigator may only confirm they are safe or pass on a message.
Can you trace someone outside South Africa?
Some investigators work with partner agencies abroad, at higher cost and longer timelines.
Related Services
Request missing person tracing quotes through Private Investigators South Africa and compare each investigator's approach, timeline and fees.
Private Investigators South Africa is a referral and quote service. We do not carry out investigations and we do not employ investigators. Work is quoted and carried out by independent investigators, and your agreement is with the one you choose. Ask for a written quotation and proof of PSIRA registration before you pay a deposit. No investigator can promise a particular result or that evidence will be accepted by a court.
Missing Persons Investigations. Describe what you need once and get the best quote, fast.
Request a Private Investigation QuoteGet the Best Quote, Fast
Keep it brief. Do not send ID documents, passwords, intimate images or evidence through this form. Your enquiry is passed only to investigators suited to the job, and you decide whether to go ahead.
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