Report missing person

South Africa Government Services
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Description

This service enables members of the public to report a missing person. You can report a missing person as soon as you suspect that something wrong or out of the ordinary has happened to them.

There is no waiting period to report a missing person. If a police officer tells you otherwise, demand to speak to the next senior officer, and keep doing so until you get the necessary assistance. For information on missing children, go to the official site of the South African Police Service at http://www.saps.gov.za.

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Steps to follow

If you:
- suspect that someone is missing, try to contact them first
- are unable to trace them, go to the nearest police station or client service centre immediately
provide basic information about the person, preferably, a recent photograph
complete a SAPS 55 (A) form and sign an indemnity form which safeguards the SAPS from “hoax” reports
if the missing person is found, go to the police station where the person was reported missing to notify the police or the official investigating the case
complete a SAPS 92 form to effect the cancellation on the relevant circulation system.

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Legal framework

(Documents are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

South African Police Service Act, 1995 (Act 68 of 1995)

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Service standard

You can report a missing person at any police station, not necessarily in the area in which the person is suspected to have gone missing.

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Cost

The service is free.

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Forms to complete