The South African Police Service (SAPS) is calling on aspiring law enforcement officers to seize the opportunity of a lifetime, with online applications now open for 5,500 police trainee posts for the 2025/26 financial year. This landmark recruitment drive marks the first time the application system has gone fully digital, promising a more transparent and efficient process.
SAPS expects the shift to a digital platform to reduce paperwork, curb corruption and nepotism, and prevent lost applications. It adds that it will enhance fairness, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and improve the integrity and speed of the recruitment process.
The response to the online launch has been overwhelming, with the SAPS reporting over 67,000 applications submitted within the first 24 hours. This surge in interest underscores the high demand for employment opportunities, particularly among young people, given South Africa's challenging job market.
The national unemployment rate, according to the latest stats from Stats SA, hit 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, while youth unemployment remains particularly acute, standing at 46.1% for ages 15–34, and a staggering 62.4% among 15–24-year‑olds.
The SAPS acknowledged that the high volume of traffic had temporarily slowed down the recruitment website. “We are aware that the website is experiencing a delayed response due to traffic volumes,” the SAPS said in a media statement. “The technology management services (TMS), inclusive of IT experts, are continuously monitoring the influx volume of applications. Applicants are therefore advised to be patient and to continue to refresh the careers page.”
Men and women between the ages of 18 and 35, who have a clean criminal record and no pending cases, are strongly encouraged to apply.
SAPS has stressed that the application process is free of charge, adding that no positions within the organisation are for sale. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the portal, with online applications closing on 18 July.
To ensure SAPS enlists disciplined, energetic, intelligent, physically and mentally fit individuals, dedicated to serving their country through policing, applicants will be subjected to a rigorous selection process, which entails psychometric, integrity, physical fitness assessments and fingerprint/vetting screening, as well as medical evaluations,” says SAPS.
Applicants will go through a selection process that involves psychometric testing, integrity assessments, physical fitness assessments, screening and medical evaluation.
Successful recruits will undergo a nine-month training course at SAPS academies nationwide and receive a monthly stipend of R4 500. Their training will commence in January and February 2026.
Successful candidates will undergo a nine-month training programme and be paid a monthly stipend of R4,500.
SAPS said it will implement a targeted recruitment process to identify and consider applicants with specific qualifications to be placed in specialised areas.
Graduates in law, policing, criminology, law enforcement, forensic investigation and information technology, can apply for placement in the specialised environments such as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), detective and forensic services, as well as crime intelligence.
SAPS readies online applications for new police recruits
In the last three years, the SAPS Project 10 000, an initiative led by president Cyril Ramaphosa to bolster crime prevention efforts, has led to the recruitment and training of 30 393 young people, between the ages of 18 and 35, as fully-fledged police officers.
There are currently 5 500 young people in SAPS academies, who are training to become fully-fledged police officers. Some will graduate in August, while the rest will graduate in December.”
The closing date for applications is July 18, and the SAPS reminds applicants to submit their applications via the website portal and not via email.
This initiative builds upon the success of President Cyril Ramaphosa's SAPS Project 10,000, which has trained 30,393 young people to become police officers in the past three years. Currently, there are 5,500 young people in SAPS academies, with some set to graduate in August and the remainder in December.
This is a golden opportunity for young South Africans to serve their country, gain valuable skills, and contribute to a safer future. Aspiring police officers are encouraged to apply online before the July 18 deadline and take the first step towards a rewarding career in law enforcement. Click here to apply if you want to join SAPS.
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