The South African Police Service (SAPS) has opened a nationwide recruitment drive for 5,500 entry-level police trainees to be placed across the 2026 and 2027 financial years, the service said on Friday. The online campaign opens on 21-10-2025 and closes on 13-11-2025.
Who may apply and how
SAPS national spokesperson Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the drive targets South Africans aged 18 to under 35 who meet the service’s eligibility criteria. Applicants must have no criminal record or pending criminal cases and are required to apply through the official SAPS eRecruitment portal.
The online recruitment system, introduced by SAPS in 2025, requires prospective applicants to create a profile and verify their account using a code sent to their email address. Van Wyk said a QR code giving direct access to the portal will be shared on SAPS’s official social media platforms.
“This is an opportunity for young, patriotic and service-driven South Africans aged 18 to under 35 to turn their passion for making a difference into a meaningful career in policing,” Colonel Amanda van Wyk said.
Training conditions and possible placements
SAPS said successful applicants accepted into training will receive a monthly stipend of R5,000 while undergoing their basic training. The service emphasised it is seeking candidates who are physically fit, disciplined and committed to community service.
As part of the targeted drive, SAPS will identify suitably qualified applicants with specific academic qualifications for possible placement in specialised policing environments. The service noted that graduates in Law, Policing, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Forensic Investigation and Information Technology may be considered for placement within the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), detective environments and other specialised units.
- Number of trainee posts: 5,500
- Applicant age range: 18 to under 35
- Stipend during training: R5,000 per month
- Application period: 21-10-2025 to 13-11-2025
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application method | eRecruitment portal (profile creation and email verification) |
| Criminal record | No criminal convictions or pending criminal cases |
| Preferred qualifications | Law, Policing, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Forensic Investigation, IT |
Context and implications
The recruitment drive forms part of SAPS’s ongoing effort to bolster manpower and to identify candidates with specialist skills that can be channelled into investigative and technical units. By promoting placements in units such as the Hawks and specialist detective environments, SAPS aims to strengthen capacity to investigate priority crimes and to support intelligence-driven policing.
While the stipend offers some financial support during training, the broader impact will depend on how many recruits complete training, how many are absorbed into operational and specialist posts, and the provincial distribution of new trainees. SAPS did not provide a breakdown of how the 5,500 posts will be allocated across provinces or policing districts.
Colonel van Wyk framed the drive as an appeal to young people who can bring “knowledge, skills, fresh perspectives and a commitment to excellence to the fight against crime.” The recruitment comes as SAPS continually balances the need for visible operational capacity with specialist investigative capability.
Prospective applicants are advised to use the official SAPS eRecruitment portal for applications and to look to SAPS social media for the QR code link to the portal. Applications submitted outside the official process will not be considered, SAPS said.
Applications for the trainee posts close on 13-11-2025. Shortlisted candidates are expected to undergo additional vetting and screening; SAPS emphasised that being shortlisted is not a guarantee of appointment.
