Private Investigation ServicesSeven kinds of case, one quiet team
Private investigation services from TLD Private Investigators cover the seven things people most often need looked into: a partner whose story has stopped adding up, someone who has disappeared, someone who moved owing money, a threat, a stranger met online, a claim that does not add up and a matter that has stalled. One team, one person to talk to, and more than 10 years of quiet work behind every case.
- Johannesburg · Pretoria · Durban · Cape Town
- Polokwane · Nelspruit
- Call or WhatsApp
years of private investigation work
kinds of case under one roof
centres with a local team
Private investigation services, explained simply
Private investigation services exist to find out what is really going on, quietly, so that you can make a decision with the facts in front of you. Our private investigation services are used by individuals, families, landlords, small business owners and insurers, and most cases start with one phone call or one WhatsApp.
You do not need the right words, a file or a theory. Tell us what you have noticed and what you would like to know. We will say whether it can be looked into and how, and you will have the price in hand before any work begins.
Every case gets a single contact who sees it through, from the first message to the final report. That is how our private investigation services stay discreet: the fewer people who know about your matter, the better.
Our private investigation services, case by case
Each of our private investigation services has its own page with more detail. Pick the one closest to your situation, or call and we will help you choose.
Cheating partner cases
When the late nights and the new phone habits stop making sense. A quiet look at what is really happening.
cheating spouse investigators
Covert surveillance
Observation for insurers, business owners and families, with times, places and photographs in a written account.
covert surveillance
Skip tracing
Former tenants, debtors and relatives who moved or changed numbers. We work out where they are now.
skip tracing
Missing persons
For families when the first days of searching are over and the answers have dried up.
missing person investigator
Blackmail and extortion
Sextortion, threats from an ex, demands for money. Calm first steps, then finding out who is behind it.
blackmail and extortion
Dating and romance scams
Before more money or trust goes in, we check whether the person you met online is real.
dating scam investigations
Criminal matters that stalled
An independent, discreet second look when a matter has gone quiet and you still need answers.
criminal investigationWhat do you need to know?
Choose the one that sounds most like you. It shows which of our investigation services usually fits, and where we would begin.
Start with a quiet look at the days that do not add up
Most cheating partner cases come down to two or three evenings. We help you work out which ones, and you decide what happens next.
A search or a trace, depending on who it is
If a family member has vanished, we treat it as a missing person case. If someone moved owing rent or money, it is a trace. Either way, tell us the last thing you know.
Do not pay, and do not delete anything
Keep every message, then call. The first hour is about calm, practical steps; after that we work on who sent the threats.
Check them before you send anything else
Photos, name and story usually give a fake profile away. We look at all three and tell you plainly what we found.
Watch quietly, then decide
Insurers and business owners use observation to see whether an injury, an absence or a story holds up outside the office.
How our private investigation services work
The same four steps apply to all of our private investigation services, and the work begins only once you have said yes.
Talk it through
Call, WhatsApp or send a message. We listen first and ask only what we need.
Your plan and price
A clear plan for your case, with the price agreed up front.
The work, quietly
The person handling your case keeps you updated in the way you choose.
Your report
A written account in plain language, then a conversation so you understand what it means.
What to look for in a private investigation agency
Choosing a private investigation agency is mostly about trust. You are handing a stranger something personal, so it is fair to ask who will do the work, how you will hear from them and what you will get at the end.
- Our own team in six centres, not a call centre passing your case on
- One person to talk to for the whole case
- Reports written in plain language, with times, places and photographs where there was something to photograph
- Discretion from the first message, with contact only on your terms
- More than 10 years of private investigation work behind the team
TLD Private Investigators is registered with PSIRA, the regulator for the private security industry, and every case is handled by our own team.
Private detective services or private investigation services?
They are the same thing. Some people search for private detective services, some for detective services, and some for a private investigation company. The work behind all of them is finding out what is really happening, quietly, and putting it in writing.
What changes from case to case is how much work it needs. The guide to private investigator cost breaks down what drives the price, and if you are looking for someone close to home, our page on finding a private detective near me sets out why being local matters.
Private investigation services across South Africa
Local teams know the suburbs, the roads and the places people go. When a case crosses provinces, we travel to it.
Gauteng, where most cases start
Most of our cases are in Gauteng, from Sandton, Rosebank and Fourways to Pretoria East and Centurion.
private investigators JohannesburgDurban and KZN
A team based in KZN for Durban, Umhlanga, Ballito and the South Coast.
private investigators DurbanCape Town
Local investigators for Sea Point, Claremont, Durbanville and the Winelands.
private investigators Cape TownLimpopo
Polokwane, Tzaneen, Mokopane and the smaller Limpopo towns in between.
private investigator PolokwaneMpumalanga
Mbombela, White River and the wider Lowveld, with a team who know the area.
private investigators NelspruitQuestions about our private investigation services
What do your private investigation services include?
Cheating partner cases, covert surveillance, skip tracing, missing persons, blackmail and extortion, dating and romance scams, and a second look at matters that have stalled. If your situation does not fit one of these, call us anyway.
How much do private investigation services cost?
It depends on what needs doing and for how long. A short desk check costs far less than several days of observation. You get the cost of your case before any work starts. T's and C's apply.
Is my case kept confidential?
Your case is kept to the smallest possible circle: you and the person handling it. Contact happens only by the route you pick, and only at times that suit you.
Do I have to meet anyone in person?
No. Almost every case is arranged by phone, WhatsApp or the private message form. If you would prefer to talk face to face, tell us and we will arrange it.
How long does a private investigation take?
Some questions are answered in a day or two. Others, like a trace with very little to start from, take longer. We give you a realistic idea at the start and keep you updated as it goes.
Can you take a case outside Gauteng?
Certainly. Teams based in six centres cover most of the country, and travel to smaller towns is added when a case calls for it.
Do you take on business cases?
Yes. Business owners use us for staff concerns, suspicious insurance claims, debtors who moved and suppliers who went quiet. The same discretion applies.
What happens after I get my report?
We talk it through with you. What you do with the answer is your decision. If you need more work done, we will say what it involves and what it would cost.
Not sure where to start? Start here
Call, WhatsApp or send a private message. Describe what is going on and you will get a straight answer on which of our private investigation services fits, if any.
T's and C's apply.