The SAPS has launched its first-ever electronic recruitment system to appoint 5 500 aspiring police trainees, with the platform receiving over 67 774 applications within the first 24 hours.

Kempton Express reports the e-recruitment drive, which opened on July 1, allows young South Africans aged 18 to 35 to submit online applications for the Basic Police Learning Development Programme (BPLDP) for the 2025/2026 financial year.

This marks a significant shift for SAPS, which, for the first time in its history, is fully utilising a digital platform to process applications.

The move to online recruitment aims to reduce paperwork, enhance transparency, curb corruption and nepotism, and improve the integrity and speed of the recruitment process.

Since opening, the SAPS e-recruitment system has seen high volumes of traffic from across the country.

Technology Management Services, together with IT experts, are actively monitoring the system to manage the influx, and applicants are encouraged to refresh the careers page if they experience delays.

The recruitment drive forms part of Project 10 000, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which has already seen over 30 000 young people trained and deployed as police officers in the last three years.

Successful recruits will undergo nine months of training at SAPS academies nationwide and will receive a monthly stipend of R4 500 during training.

The process includes psychometric testing, integrity checks, physical fitness assessments, fingerprint and vetting screening, and medical evaluations.

To support specialised units such as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Detective and Forensic Services, and Crime Intelligence, SAPS will implement targeted recruitment to consider graduates in Law, Policing, Criminology, Forensic Investigation, and IT.

Applications close on July 18.

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