SAPS HIRING 5,500 POLICE TRAINEES: APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2026/2027

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has officially opened applications for 5,500 entry-level police trainee positions across South Africa, with successful applicants set to receive a R5,000 monthly stipend during training.

The nationwide recruitment drive opened on 21 October 2026 and applications will close on Friday, 13 November 2026. The official SAPS eRecruitment portal lists the vacancy as STUDENT – TRA26/27, with reference number TRA26/27, and confirms that 5,500 positions are available nationally.

The opportunity is open to qualifying South Africans between the ages of 18 and 35 who want to pursue a career in policing.

SAPS says the recruitment drive is aimed at attracting young people who are disciplined, physically fit and committed to serving communities and fighting crime.

WHO CAN APPLY?

According to the official SAPS vacancy notice, applicants must:

• Be a South African citizen.
• Be at least 18 years old and not older than 35 on the closing date.
• Have a Grade 12/Matric certificate or equivalent qualification.
• Be proficient in English and at least one other official language.
• Have no previous criminal convictions or pending criminal cases.
• Be physically, medically and mentally fit.
• Be willing to undergo psychological and integrity assessments.
• Have no tattoos that will be visible while wearing SAPS uniform.
• Not have been declared unfit to possess a firearm.
• Be prepared to undergo security vetting and background checks.
• Allow fingerprints and a buccal sample to be taken and checked against criminal-record systems.
• Be prepared to undergo SAPS training.
• Be prepared to serve anywhere in South Africa.

Applicants must also not have been dismissed from previous employment for serious misconduct relating to dishonesty, violence, sexual harassment or drugs.

GRADUATES COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR SPECIALISED POLICING

SAPS says suitably qualified applicants with particular skills may be considered for specialised policing environments.

Graduates in fields including Law, Policing, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Forensic Investigation and Information Technology may potentially be considered for placement within areas such as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Detective and Forensic Services and Crime Intelligence.

This does not mean applicants are automatically guaranteed placement in these units; SAPS says candidates with relevant qualifications may be considered.

R5,000 MONTHLY STIPEND

The official vacancy lists a R5,000 stipend for police trainees.

SAPS says successful recruits with a relevant NQF Level 6 or higher qualification will undergo six months of training at a SAPS training academy, while recruits without such qualifications will undergo the standard nine-month training programme.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applying does not guarantee acceptance.

Candidates will go through a rigorous selection process that includes:

• Physical fitness testing
• Psychometric assessment
• Integrity testing
• Medical evaluation
• Interview
• Background checks and security vetting

SAPS says the process is intended to identify candidates with the fitness, resilience, discipline and integrity required for policing.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE 5,500 SAPS TRAINEE POSTS

Applications are being handled through the official SAPS eRecruitment system.

APPLY HERE – SAPS eRecruitment Portal

Applicants should look for:

Vacancy: STUDENT – TRA26/27
Reference: TRA26/27
Positions: 5,500
Location: National
Employment type: Contract
Stipend: R5,000
Closing date: 13 November 2026

You can also access the vacancy directly:

View the official SAPS 5,500 Police Trainee vacancy

STEP-BY-STEP APPLICATION PROCESS

First-time applicants must create an account on the SAPS eRecruitment portal. An OTP is sent to the applicant’s registered email address to verify the account.

Applicants then complete their personal and contact information, capture their education and qualifications, locate the police trainee vacancy, complete the application and upload the required supporting documents.

Before submitting, applicants should carefully check all information. SAPS says successful submission generates a confirmation email containing an application reference number.

Official SAPS guide: How to apply online

HUGE DEMAND: MORE THAN 156,000 REGISTRATIONS IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS

Jobseekers are being encouraged not to wait until the deadline.

By Thursday, 22 October 2026, SAPS said its recruitment portal had already recorded 156,131 profile registrations nationwide in less than 24 hours. Of those, 78,473 people had completed profile verification, 53,716 had started applications and 29,013 had successfully submitted applications. SAnews

The heavy traffic means applicants may experience delays when accessing the recruitment portal.

BEWARE OF SAPS JOB SCAMS

SAPS has stressed that applications are free and that no police trainee position is for sale.

Jobseekers should be suspicious of anyone asking for money in exchange for a SAPS position or claiming that they can influence the recruitment process.

Use the official SAPS recruitment portal rather than unofficial application links circulated on social media.

IMPORTANT DATES

📅 Applications opened: 21 October 2026
📅 Closing date: 13 November 2026
👮 Available positions: 5,500
💰 Training stipend: R5,000 per month
📍 Location: Nationwide
📄 Reference: TRA26/27

KAE News encourages eligible jobseekers in Midrand, Ivory Park, Tembisa and surrounding communities to apply early and share the opportunity with someone who may qualify.

Good Luck!