SAPS Basic Entry Level Police Trainee Intake for 2025/2026

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.

Applicants who previously served in a Government Department and who were dismissed as a result of misconduct will not be considered for appointment in the South African Police Service (SAPS).In view of the physical demands of the Basic Police Development Learning Programme, applicants with chronic diseases, physical impairments or any other health condition that may lead to interruption of the training programme, may be excluded from participation in the programme. Should applicants fail to disclose any health condition it may result in their withdrawal from the programme on the determination thereof.

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SAPS Basic Entry Level Police Trainee Intake for 2025/2026

TRAINING PHASE MATRICULANTS / GRADUATES

Induction Phase One (1) month at a designated police station; Stipend: R5500-00 per month
One (1) month at a designated police station; Stipend: R5500-00 per month
Basic Training Phase Eight (8) months Basic Training at a designated SAPS Academy Stipend: R5500-00 per month
Six (6)) months Basic Training at a designated SAPS Academy Stipend: R5500-00 per month
Probation Phase After successful completion of the Induction and the Basic Training Phases, the police trainee shall be appointed as a member of the Service undergoing the Workplace Exposure Programme (12 months). Salary notch: R216 033 per annum

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REQUIREMENTS

APPLICANTS MUST:-

Have permanent residence in the Republic of South Africa of which documentary proof must be
furnished;
Be in possession of a grade 12 school certificate or equivalent qualification of which documentary proof
must be furnished;
A valid driving license for at least a light motor vehicle will serve as an advantage;
Be proficient in at least English and one other official language;
Be at least eighteen (18) and under thirty-five (35) years of age of which documentary proof must be
furnished;
Have no previous criminal convictions and shall allow his or her fingerprints to be taken and background enquiries to be made
Not have any tattoo marks of which will be visible when wearing any uniform of the Service;
Be prepared to take the oath of office;
Submit himself or herself to a physical medical examination as determined by the National
Commissioner; and must be found to be physically and mentally fit for appointment in the post for which he or she applies;
Undergo and pass a psychological assessment as determined by the National Commissioner and be
found to comply with the profile of a police official;
Be prepared to successfully undergo such training as determined by the National Commissioner;
Be prepared to serve anywhere in the Republic of South Africa.

During the Basic Training Phase of the PROGRAMME the Service shall provide free training gear, meals
and accommodation to the police trainee.Trainees will also receive medical aid benefits for the duration of the 21-month Basic Training Learning Programme. Upon successful completion of the Basic Training Learning Programme trainees will be considered for permanent appointment as members of the SAPS at the rank of Constable.
Placement: Successful candidates will be trained at any SAPS Academy in South Africa and will be
placed at any Police Station / Unit in South Africa after completion of the Institution Phase.

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GENERAL INFORMATION:

Interested applicants should submit their applications on the official application form, which can be
obtained free of charge from any Police Station / SAPS Recruitment offices or downloaded from
the SAPS Website (https://www.saps.gov.za). The Z83 previously utilized will no longer be
accepted.
All instructions on the application form must be adhered to, failure to do so may result in the
rejection of the application. Applications must be hand delivered timeously at the local Police
Stations during office hours. Contact details for the relevant Provinces will be published on the
website. Late applications will not be accepted or considered.

Attached uncertified copies of the following documents to your application form:
o Identity Document;
o Senior Certificate or equivalent qualification;
o Tertiary Qualifications;
o Academic Record;
o Driver’s license (where applicable);
o Testimonial (School / Church / Traditional Leaders)
o Service Certificates of previous employers (if applicable)

Applicants to undergo and pass a medical examination (Body Mass Index of ≤ than 30 / Waist
circumference ≤ 102 cm (males) and ≤ 88 cm (females))
If an applicant is short-listed, it can be expected of him/her to undergo a personal interview

Recruitment Process

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.

SELECTION PROCESS:

All applicants will be subjected to a fitness, psychometric and integrity testing as well as medical
evaluation and will be interviewed during the recruitment, selection and enlistment process.
The SAPS will also verify the qualifications, drivers’ licence, where applicable, citizenship and
residential address of each applicant.
Applicants will be subjected to a vetting process which will include security screening, reference
checking, and fingerprint verification to establish whether any illicit activity has been recorded or is
pending against candidates.

Stipend

Successful recruits will undergo nine-month-long training at the SAPS training academies nationwide and receive a monthly stipend of R5 500.

In the last three years, the SAPS Project 5500, 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.

Become 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.

SAPS Basic Entry Level Police Trainee Intake for 2025/2026