SOUTH AFRICA – The South African Police Service (SAPS) recruitment drive has garnered an overwhelming response, with more than 150,000 applicants registering for 5,500 police trainee positions within the first 24 hours of the portal opening.
The nationwide online recruitment initiative, which opened at midnight on Wednesday, is designed to invite South Africans under the age of 35 to pursue a career in policing and contribute to the national fight against crime. The opportunity is open to all eligible candidates, irrespective of race or gender.
According to official figures released by the South African Police Service, the initial surge in traffic resulted in 156,131 profile registrations across the country in less than a day. A SAPS spokesperson provided a detailed breakdown of this activity, noting that of the total registrations, 78,473 individuals successfully completed the profile verification process. Furthermore, 53,716 candidates initiated their applications, and 29,013 successfully completed and submitted their full applications through the online system.
Addressing the technical demands of the high application volume, a SAPS spokesperson urged prospective applicants to exercise patience when accessing the portal. Candidates are strongly encouraged to verify that they meet all stipulated requirements and to submit their applications well before the deadline to avoid last-minute system congestion.
To qualify for the training program, applicants must have no prior criminal record and no pending criminal cases. All eligible and interested candidates are directed to apply exclusively through the official SAPS eRecruitment portal at https://erecruitment.saps.gov.za/.
The closing date for all applications is 13 November 2026.
