SAPS recruitment drive: Over 5,000 new police trainees to be selected

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is in the process of selecting more than five thousand new police trainees from across the country.

Authorities have stated that preference will be given to applicants with tertiary qualifications and valid driver’s licences.

Training for the successful candidates is expected to begin in 2026, although the exact date has not yet been announced.

Police spokesperson Amanda Van Wyk said assessments are currently underway in all nine provinces. She highlighted the high volume of applications received:

“SAPS received over a million applications of which 334,765 are graduates who hold qualifications in policing, law, forensic investigation, and other fields of study.”