Criminal Record Expungement removes old minor convictions from your criminal record. Under the Criminal Procedure Act Section 271B, you can apply 10 years after sentence where the offence carried no imprisonment or a fine under R20,000 (or a suspended/community-service sentence). The Minister of Justice approves or refuses. Expungement allows you to honestly say you have no criminal record - improving employment, visas, and travel.
When to hire a criminal record expungement attorney
- A minor conviction is blocking employment, visa, or professional registration.
- More than 10 years have passed since the conviction.
- You are pardoned under Section 84(2)(j) of the Constitution and want the record cleared.
- You want to expunge a juvenile conviction (Section 87 Child Justice Act).
What to expect
Your attorney obtains your SAPS criminal record, drafts a Section 271B application, and lodges it with the Department of Justice. The Minister considers the application and either grants or refuses. Granted expungements are forwarded to SAPS who physically remove the record. Processing typically takes 6-12 months.
Typical fees
Standard expungement: R4,500-R12,000 including disbursements. Complex matters (multiple convictions, pardons): R10,000-R30,000.
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