SAPS open application for 5,500 trainees
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has opened applications for the recruitment of 5,500 trainees for the 2026/2027 financial year.
The nationwide online recruitment drive opens on October 31 and closes on November 13.
Police spokesperson Col Amanda van Wyk said SAPS is looking for more young people who can bring knowledge, skills, fresh perspectives and a commitment to excellence to the fight against crime.
“SAPS will identify suitably qualified applicants with specific skills for consideration in specialised policing environments. Graduates in law, policing, criminology, law enforcement, forensic investigation and IT may be considered for placement within the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, detective and forensic services and crime intelligence,” she said.
Van Wyk said the targeted recruitment process will also seek to identify suitably qualified young people from underrepresented racial groups who meet the prescribed requirements.
She said every applicant will undergo a rigorous selection process, including fitness, psychometric and integrity testing, a medical evaluation and an interview.
“These assessments are designed to ensure those selected possess the physical fitness, mental resilience, discipline and integrity required to serve and protect the people of South Africa,” Van Wyk said.
“Successful recruits who hold a relevant NQF Level 6 or higher qualification will undergo six months of training at a SAPS training academy, while those without such qualifications will complete the standard nine-month training programme. All police trainees will receive a monthly stipend of R5,000 during their training,” she said.
Eligible applicants who have no criminal records or pending criminal cases are encouraged to apply via the official SAPS eRecruitment portal at http://www.erecruitment.saps.gov.za/
Van Wyk said the online application process, introduced in 2025, makes it easier for young people from all walks of life to apply for entry-level police trainee posts.
To apply, prospective applicants must create a profile on the portal and verify their accounts using a code sent to their email addresses.
Once verified, they can follow the step-by-step process to apply for available trainee posts. A QR code providing direct access to the portal will also be shared on SAPS’s official social media platforms.
SAPS has emphasised applications are free of charge and no police trainee position is for sale.
Van Wyk said, “Applicants must remain vigilant against fraudsters who may demand money in exchange for employment or promise to influence the recruitment process.”