SAPS Recruitment 2026/27: 5,500 Police Trainee Posts, Requirements and How to Apply
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SAPS takes a new group of trainees each year, and it is one of the biggest public service intakes in the country. Trainees are paid a monthly stipend while they train and can then be appointed as constables. The competition is huge: in the first 24 hours of the 2026/27 drive, SAPS counted more than 150,000 profile registrations.
SAPS Recruitment 2026/27 at a Glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Posts | 5,500 police trainees |
| Opening date | Wednesday, 21 October 2026 (portal opened at midnight) |
| Closing date | Friday, 13 November 2026 |
| Age | 18 to under 35 |
| School level | Grade 12 (matric) or equivalent |
| How to apply | Online only, at erecruitment.saps.gov.za |
| Cost to apply | Free |
| Stipend during training | R5,000 a month |
| Training length | 9 months, or 6 months with a relevant NQF Level 6 qualification |
| Applications allowed | One per person |
Who Can Apply: SAPS Trainee Requirements
SAnews reported on 21 October 2026 that SAPS wants young South Africans “regardless of race or gender” who meet the requirements. Reports of the advert by Bona and Joburg ETC list these minimum requirements:
- You are a South African citizen.
- You are at least 18 and under 35 years old.
- You have a Grade 12 (matric) certificate or an equivalent qualification.
- You can speak English and at least one other official South African language.
- You have no criminal record and no pending criminal cases.
- You have no tattoos that would be visible when you wear the police uniform.
- You are willing to train at any SAPS academy in South Africa.
A note on the age limit
SAPS describes the age limit as 18 to “under 35”. Some reports of the advert say “between 18 and 35 on the closing date”. If you turn 35 close to 13 November 2026, read the age rule in the advert on the portal before you apply.
Graduates and specialist units
Applicants with a relevant three-year qualification at NQF Level 6 or higher may be considered for specialised policing work. SAPS named graduates in law, policing, criminology, law enforcement, forensic investigation and information technology. They could be placed in the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), Detective and Forensic Services or Crime Intelligence.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Amanda van Wyk told TimesLIVE that SAPS will look for applicants “with specific skills” for these environments. The drive also aims to find suitably qualified young people from underrepresented racial groups.
How to Apply for SAPS Trainee Posts Online
Applications are only accepted on the official portal. SAPS introduced online applications in 2025, so there are no paper forms at police stations for this intake.
- Go to erecruitment.saps.gov.za on your phone or computer.
- Create a profile with your ID number, contact details, address and school results.
- Open your email and enter the verification code SAPS sends you. Your profile is not complete until it is verified.
- Sign in and open the SAPS vacancies list.
- Choose the police trainee post and fill in the application step by step.
- Check every answer, then submit before Friday, 13 November 2026.
SAPS also shares a QR code that opens the portal on its official social media pages. Use only that code or type the address yourself.
If the portal is slow
On 22 October 2026 SAPS said it had 156,131 profile registrations in less than 24 hours. Only 29,013 people had fully submitted an application by then. SAPS asked applicants to be patient “given the high volume of traffic”. Try again at quieter times, such as early morning or late at night, and do not wait for the last day.
| SAPS figures after the first 24 hours (22 October 2026) | Number |
|---|---|
| Profiles registered | 156,131 |
| Profiles verified | 78,473 |
| Applications started | 53,716 |
| Applications submitted | 29,013 |
Stipend, Training and Salary
| Stage | What you get |
|---|---|
| Basic training | R5,000 a month stipend |
| Training with NQF Level 6 or higher (relevant field) | 6 months at a SAPS academy |
| Training without such a qualification | 9 months at a SAPS academy |
| During training | Meals, accommodation and training gear, as reported by Bona and Joburg ETC |
| After training | Considered for appointment as a constable; the advertised salary is R248,175 a year |
Training can be at any SAPS academy in the country, so you may have to live away from home for the whole course.
The Selection Process
Submitting an application does not mean you have a post. SAPS listed these checks for the 2026/27 intake:
- Fitness testing
- Psychometric testing
- Integrity testing
- A medical evaluation
- An interview
Reports of the advert also mention security vetting, with fingerprints and criminal record checks. Colonel van Wyk said the assessments make sure recruits have “the physical fitness, mental resilience, discipline and integrity” the job needs.
When will you hear back?
SAPS has not given a date for the 2026/27 results. In the 2025 drive, SAPS said applicants who met the requirements would be contacted within three months and that others would not be notified because of the high number of applications. That drive received 1,049,998 applications for 5,500 places, SAnews reported in July 2025.
Beware of SAPS Job Scams
SAPS says applications are free and that “no police trainee position is for sale”. Be careful of:
- anyone who asks for money to “secure” a post or to speed up your application,
- people who say they know someone inside SAPS who can influence the selection,
- WhatsApp or Facebook links that look like the portal but have a different address,
- pages that ask for your banking PIN or a payment before you can apply.
If someone asks you for money for a SAPS post, do not pay. Report it at your nearest police station or to the SAPS Crime Stop line on 08600 10111.
SAPS Recruitment 2026/27 Questions
When is the closing date for SAPS recruitment 2026?
The 2026/27 police trainee drive closes on Friday, 13 November 2026. It opened on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
How old do you have to be to join SAPS as a trainee?
You must be at least 18 and under 35. Check the age rule in the advert on the portal if you are close to 35.
Can I apply for SAPS with only matric?
Yes. Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification is the minimum. A relevant degree or diploma at NQF Level 6 or higher can shorten training to six months and may open specialist units.
How much do SAPS trainees get paid?
Trainees receive a stipend of R5,000 a month during training. After training they can be appointed as constables, with an advertised salary of R248,175 a year.
Do I have to pay to apply for SAPS?
No. Applying is free and SAPS says no trainee post is for sale. Anyone asking for money is a scammer.
Can I apply at a police station?
No. For this intake SAPS only accepts online applications on erecruitment.saps.gov.za.
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