South African Police Services(SAPS) Police Trainee 2025/2026 Intake

South African Police Services(SAPS) Police Trainee 2025/2026 Intake

SAPS LAUNCHES ITS E-RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR 5 500 POLICE TRAINEES, A FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR THE ORGANISATION

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched its much anticipated e-Recruitment drive on its official website for 5 500 aspiring police officers to join its ranks.

For the first time in the history of the existence of the organisation, the SAPS is utilising an Electronic Recruitment System, through which youth from all walks of life, can submit their applications to be considered for the entry level Police Trainee posts.

The shift to a digital platform is expected to reduce paperwork, curb corruption and nepotism, and prevent lost applications. It will also enhance fairness, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and improve the integrity and speed of the recruitment process.

The nationwide recruitment drive begins today, 30 June 2025, with online applications closing on 18 July 2025. It targets young men and women aged 18 to 35 to join as police trainees for the 2025/2026 financial year.

It is worth mentioning that the SAPS will implement a targeted recruitment process to identify and consider applicants with specific skills and/or qualifications, i.e., Graduates in Law, Policing, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Forensic Investigation, and Information Technology, for placement in the specialised environments such as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Detective and Forensic Services as well as Crime Intelligence (CI).

To ensure that the SAPS enlist 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.

Successful recruits will undergo nine-month-long training at the SAPS training academies nationwide and receive a monthly stipend of R4 500.

In the last three years, the SAPS Project 10 000, an initiative led by President of RSA, Mr 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 2025, while the rest will graduate in December 2025.

The application process is free of charge, and no position within the SAPS is for sale. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official SAPS website portal.

South African Police Service (SAPS): Police Trainee Programme 2025/2026

Post Title: Police Trainee
Reference: TRAINEE2025/2026
Act of Appointment: SAPS Act, 1995 (Act No. 68 of 1995)
Closing Date: 18 July 2025

Overview:

The South African Police Service invites applications from young, energetic, intelligent, physically and mentally fit individuals who are dedicated to serving their country through a career in policing.

Preference will be given to applicants with a valid driver’s license (at least light motor vehicle) and the following educational qualifications:

A three-year tertiary qualification (NQF Level 6 or higher) in Criminal Law, Policing, Forensic Investigation, or related fields.
Other three-year tertiary qualifications (NQF Level 6 or higher).
A Grade 12 certificate that meets the minimum entry requirements for admission to a Bachelor’s Degree, Diploma, or Higher Certificate.

Generic Requirements (per SAPS Employment Amendment Regulations, 2023):

Applicants must:

Be a South African citizen (proof required).
Be between 18 and 35 years of age.
Have no visible tattoos when wearing any SAPS uniform.
Have no criminal convictions or pending cases.
Have a Grade 12 (Matric) certificate or equivalent.
Be proficient in English and at least one other official language.
Be mentally, physically, and medically fit.
Undergo psychological and integrity assessments.
Be prepared to:
- Take the oath of office.
- Undergo training, security vetting, and background checks.
- Serve anywhere in South Africa.
- Allow fingerprints and buccal (DNA) samples for verification.
Not have been dismissed from any Government department due to misconduct.

Remuneration:

During training: R4 500 monthly stipend (includes applicable benefits)
After completion of training (Constable rank): R238 629 per annum

Training Programme:

Duration: 21 months Basic Police Development Learning Programme.
Training includes free accommodation, meals, training gear, and medical aid benefits.
Upon successful completion, candidates will be permanently appointed as Constables.

Core Functions:

Successful candidates will serve as functional police officials and will be responsible for:

Preventing, combating, and investigating crime.
Maintaining public order.
Protecting the public and their property.
Upholding and enforcing the law.

Special Placement (For Graduates):

Applicants with a recognised three-year diploma or degree (recorded on the NLRD at NQF Level 6 or higher) in fields such as Law, Policing, Criminology, Forensics, or Information Technology may be considered for placement in specialised units:

Detective and Forensic Services
Crime Intelligence (CI)
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI)

Selection Process:

Fitness, psychometric and medical assessments.
Verification of qualifications, driver’s license, citizenship, and address.
Vetting process, including social media checks, fingerprint verification, and reference checks.
Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed and checked against the National Register for Sex Offenders and Child Protection Register.

Important Notes:

Applicants must meet Body Mass Index (BMI) requirements (under 30) and specific waist measurements (≤102cm for males and ≤90cm for females).
Only one application per applicant will be accepted.
Applicants must not be involved in remunerative work (e.g., taxi, liquor, or security industries) without SAPS authorisation.
If the applicant owns or directs a business that trades with the state, they must deregister or resign before enlistment or within one month of appointment.
No guarantee of appointment is implied, even if shortlisted.
Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted. If no response is received within 3 months, consider your application unsuccessful.

How to Apply:

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Visit: www.saps.gov.za
Click on the Careers link and follow these steps:

Register an account on the SAPS site.
Complete your profile.
Log in and browse the vacancy for Police Trainee (Reference: TRAINEE2025/2026).
Complete the multi-step application process and submit your form online.