If you have ever received a call from a stranger who somehow knew your name, there is a good chance your personal information is listed on TrueCaller, WhitePages SA, or one of the many data broker sites operating in South Africa. These platforms scrape, aggregate, and publish your phone number, name, address, and sometimes even your ID number — often without your knowledge or consent.
The good news: under POPIA, you have every right to demand removal. The bad news: each platform has a different unlisting process, and some make it deliberately difficult. This guide walks you through removing your data from the most common South African data brokers, one by one.
How to Remove Your Number from TrueCaller
TrueCaller is the most widely used caller ID app in South Africa, with millions of local numbers in its database. Even if you have never installed the app, your number is likely listed because TrueCaller sources data from the contact lists of users who have granted it access.
- Step 1: Visit TrueCaller's unlisting page at truecaller.com/unlisting.
- Step 2: Enter your phone number in international format (e.g., +27 82 123 4567).
- Step 3: Complete the CAPTCHA and submit.
- Step 4: If you have a TrueCaller account, you must also deactivate it from within the app (Settings > Privacy Center > Deactivate) before unlisting takes effect.
- Step 5: Wait 24-48 hours for removal to process.
The catch: TrueCaller's unlisting is not permanent. If anyone who has your number in their contacts uses TrueCaller, your number can be re-added to the database. You need to check and re-submit periodically — or use a service like OremAI that monitors and re-removes automatically.
Removing Yourself from WhitePages SA and Directory Listings
WhitePages SA and similar directory services (including 10111.co.za, YellowPages.co.za, and various Telkom-derived directories) compile publicly available phone listings. If you have ever had a landline or a business line, your details are almost certainly listed.
- For WhitePages SA: Submit an opt-out request via their contact form. Reference POPIA Section 24 and request deletion of all records associated with your name and number. They typically process within 7-14 business days.
- For Telkom directories: Contact Telkom directly at 10210 or via their website and request that your number be unlisted from all directory services. This can take up to 30 days.
- For 10111.co.za and similar aggregators: Most of these sites pull from Telkom's directory database. Once you unlist from Telkom, these should update automatically — but it can take 60-90 days for cached results to disappear.
"Removing your number from one directory does not remove it from all of them. Data brokers share and resell information constantly, which is why a one-time opt-out is rarely enough."
Dealing with InfoBel SA and International Data Aggregators
InfoBel is a Belgian data aggregator that maintains one of the largest global telephone directory databases, including extensive South African records. Your data may appear on InfoBel even if you have never heard of the service.
- Step 1: Search for yourself at infobel.com/en/south-africa.
- Step 2: If listed, email their data protection officer at privacy@infobel.com with a removal request citing POPIA and, if applicable, GDPR (since InfoBel operates from the EU).
- Step 3: Include your full name, phone number, and the specific listing URL.
- Step 4: Allow 14-30 days for processing.
Other international aggregators with SA data include Pipl, Spokeo, and BeenVerified. Each has its own opt-out process. The challenge is that new aggregators appear regularly, and your data may resurface on sites you have never encountered.
Lesser-Known SA Data Brokers You Should Check
Beyond the well-known platforms, several South African data brokers operate quietly and are often overlooked:
- iAfrica People Search — Aggregates public records and social media data for South African individuals.
- SA Reverse Phone Lookup sites — Multiple websites offer reverse phone lookups using scraped SA mobile data.
- Property and deed registries — While these are public records under the Deeds Registries Act, data brokers often scrape and republish this data commercially, which may be challengeable under POPIA.
- Credit bureau marketing lists — TransUnion, Experian, and XDS maintain marketing databases separate from your credit file. You can opt out of marketing use by contacting each bureau directly.
Each of these sources requires a separate opt-out request with different forms, timelines, and follow-up procedures.
Skip the Hassle: Let OremAI Handle It Automatically
Manually tracking and submitting removal requests to 19+ data broker sites is exhausting — and it is an ongoing task, not a one-time fix. Data brokers constantly re-acquire your information from public records, social media, and shared databases.
OremAI automates the entire process. Our platform scans all major South African data brokers, identifies where your personal information is exposed, submits POPIA-compliant removal requests on your behalf, and continuously monitors for re-listings. You get a clear dashboard showing your exposure score and removal progress across every source.
Start with a free scan to see exactly where your personal information is listed — and let OremAI clean it up for you, automatically.