The South African Police Service (SAPS) has received more than 300,000 profile registrations as young South Africans apply for its recruitment drive offering 5,500 police trainee positions.
The online recruitment portal opened on 21 October 2026 and attracted significant interest within its first 24 hours, recording 156,131 profile registrations nationwide.
With the application deadline set for 13 November 2026, prospective police trainees are encouraged to complete their applications early and use the official SAPS eRecruitment portal.
SAPS Police Trainee Applications Exceed 172,000
The latest recruitment figures show strong interest in the SAPS police trainee programme. As of Saturday, more than 232,000 applicants had completed profile verification, while over 190,000 had started their applications.
A total of 172,721 applications had been completed and submitted for the 5,500 available positions.
Female applicants accounted for more than 95,000 submitted applications, while male applicants had submitted over 76,000.
The figures indicate that competition for the available police trainee posts is attracting considerable interest across South Africa.
Provincial Breakdown of SAPS Applications
Gauteng has recorded the highest number of completed applications, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
The provincial application figures are as follows:
- Gauteng: 49,518
- KwaZulu-Natal: 33,661
- Eastern Cape: 17,441
- Limpopo: 16,251
- Western Cape: 16,249
- Mpumalanga: 14,900
- Free State: 11,345
- North West: 9,179
- Northern Cape: 4,177
Gauteng leads the provinces with 49,518 applications submitted, while the Northern Cape has recorded the lowest number, at 4,177.
SAPS Reports High Demand on eRecruitment Portal
The high volume of applicants has placed pressure on the SAPS eRecruitment portal, potentially causing delays for people attempting to register or submit their applications.
In a statement, SAPS acknowledged the technical challenges and confirmed that the portal remained operational.
“The high volume of traffic on the eRecruitment portal may result in delays or slower response times for applicants attempting to register or submit their applications.
“The portal remains operational. The SAPS Technology Management Services division, together with its technology partners, is working around the clock to manage the increased demand and ensure the continued functioning of the system.
“Applicants who have successfully submitted their applications are assured that their submissions remain valid and that no further action is required,” a police statement read.
SAPS has urged applicants to remain patient while using the system and to avoid repeatedly attempting to register or submit applications, as this could place additional pressure on the portal.
Applicants who have successfully submitted their applications do not need to take further action. Only those who have not received an acknowledgement email should consider reapplying.
Tips for Applying for SAPS Police Trainee Posts
Prospective police trainees can take the following steps to help avoid unnecessary delays:
- Apply outside peak hours where possible.
- Avoid repeatedly attempting to register or submit an application.
- Check whether an acknowledgement email has been received after submitting an application.
- Use only official SAPS communication channels for recruitment updates.
- Submit applications well before the closing date.
The SAPS eRecruitment portal is available at https://erecruitment.saps.gov.za.
SAPS Recruitment Drive Closes on 13 November 2026
The SAPS recruitment drive is offering 5,500 police trainee positions, with applications closing on Friday, 13 November 2026.
Young South Africans interested in joining the police service should ensure they complete the online application process before the deadline and monitor official SAPS channels for further information.
With high demand for the available posts, applicants are encouraged to avoid leaving their submissions until the final days of the recruitment period.
