VACANCIES FOR ENTRY LEVEL POLICE TRAINEES: 2026/2027

To apply, click on the link at the end of the posts and all the best with your applications

South African Police Service

VACANCIES FOR ENTRY LEVEL POLICE TRAINEES: 2026/2027
The South African Police Service is recruiting for entry level Police Trainees and invites
applications from all races and gender, i.e. from young, energetic, intelligent, physically and
mentally fit individuals, dedicated to serving their country by pursuing a career in Policing.
The enlistment details are as follows:

Post title: Police Trainee
Reference: TRA26/27
Act of Appointment: SAPS Act, 1995 (Act No 68 of 1995)
Remuneration during training: Stipend of R5000 per month (with applicable benefits).

NOTE: Applicants in possession of a three (3) year National Diploma / Degree recorded on the
National Learner Record Database (NLRD) on at least a NQF 6 or higher level in Law / Policing /
Criminology / Law Enforcement / Forensic Investigation / IT, Computer Science, Natural Science,
Accounting Science will be considered for placement in the following units: Directorate for Priority
Crime Investigation (DPCI)/ Detective and Forensic Service / Crime Intelligence (CI).

Period of Training

Induction Phase
One (1) month at a designated police station.

Basic Police Development Learning Programme/ Introductory Police Development
Learning Programme:
Successful candidates will undergo such training as, where and when determined by the
National Commissioner, at any SAPS Training Academy in South Africa.

Probation period:
After successful completion the Basic Training Phase, the police trainee shall be appointed as a
member of the Service under probation for a period of 12 months.

During the Basic Training Phase, the SAPS shall provide free training gear, meals and
accommodation to the police trainee.

Trainees will receive medical aid benefits for the duration Basic Police Development Learning
Programme/ Introductory Police Development Learning Programme.

Upon successful completion of the Basic Training, the trainees will be considered for permanent
appointment as members of the SAPS on the rank of Constable.

Core Functions: Successful candidates will serve as functional police officials. As such, they
will be deployed to carry out the following functions:
*Prevent, combat and investigate crime;
*Maintain public order;
*Protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property; and

• Uphold and enforce the law.

GENERIC REQUIREMENTS (SAPS Employment Amendment Regulations, 2023, 39(8)):
A person who applies to be employed as an entry level police trainee must —
Apply on the form determined by the National Commissioner and affirm under oath or by way of
a solemn declaration that the particulars furnished in the application, are the truth and correct;
Be a citizen of the Republic of South Africa of which documentary proof must be furnished;
Be at least eighteen (18) years of age and not older than thirty-five (35) years of age at the time
of the closing date for applications stipulated in the relevant advertisement, of which
documentary proof must be furnished;
Submit himself or herself to a physical and medical examination as determined by the National
Commissioner and must be found to be physically, medically and mentally fit for appointment in
the service;
Undergo a psychological and integrity assessment as determined by the National Commissioner
and be found to comply with the profile of a police official;
Be in possession of a grade 12 school certificate or equivalent qualification of which
documentary proof must be furnished;
Be proficient in at least English and one other official language;
Be prepared to take the oath of office;
Be prepared to undergo such training as, where and when determined by the National
Commissioner;
Not have any tattoo marks which will be visible when wearing any uniform of the Service;
Not have been declared unfit to possess a firearm;
Not have any previous criminal convictions or any pending criminal cases;
Not have been dismissed for serious misconduct from the employ of a previous employer, where
such dismissal relates to any act of dishonesty or violence; sexual harassment or is drug related;
Allow a buccal sample and his or her fingerprints to be taken and verified against the criminal
record system;
Allow background enquiries to be made;
Be prepared to undergo security vetting and obtain the level of security clearance determined by
the National Commissioner; and
Be prepared to serve anywhere in the Republic.

SELECTION PROCESS:
**NOTE THAT PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS WITH A VALID DRIVER’S
LICENSE FOR AT LEAST A LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING
QUALIFICATIONS:
✓ Applicants in possession of a relevant three (3) years tertiary qualification (NQF 6 or
higher) i.e. Criminal Law / Policing / Forensic investigation etc.;
✓ Applicants in possession of other three (3) years tertiary qualification (NQF 6 or higher;
✓ Applicants in possession of Grade 12 school certificate with the minimum requirements for
admission to bachelor’s degree;
➢ 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, social media presence and fingerprint verification to establish whether
any illicit activity has been recorded or is pending against candidates.
➢ Applicants who previously served in a Government Department and who were dismissed
because 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.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
❖ NB: To apply online, please visit the South African Police Service website on:
https://www.saps.gov.za and click on the link or scan the QR code provided.

The step-by-step guide to apply for utilizing the SAPS electronic recruitment system are
as follows:
✓ Register your account on the SAPS site;
✓ Enter your profile details through the Profile User page;
✓ Log into your account;
✓ On the home page, browse to the SAPS vacancy page link;
✓ Locate and select the job you want to apply for (i.e. TRA26/27);
✓ Enter personal details through the multi steps application process and submit your
application.
❖ Applicants that apply must submit themselves to a fitness assessment. To be able to
undergo the fitness assessment, applicants should comply to the following requirements:
Body Mass Index of ≤ 30 Kg/m2 and Waist circumference of ≤ 102 cm (males) and ≤ 90
cm (females).
❖ If an applicant is short-listed, it can be expected of him/her to undergo a personal
interview.

❖ Short-listed applicants for appointment may be vetted in terms of the Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No 32 of 2007) and the
Children’s Act, 2005 (Act No 38 of 2005). A candidate whose particulars appear in either
the National Register for Sex Offenders or Part B of the Child Protection Register, will be
disqualified from appointment.
❖ The Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Act, Act 37 of 2013 requires that all
new appointments in the South African Police Service as from 31st of January 2015
provide a buccal (inside cheek) sample in order to determine their forensic DNA profile.
The forensic DNA profile derived from the sample will be loaded to the Elimination Index of
the National Forensic DNA Database.
❖ Candidates are expected to disclose if he/ she is a respondent in an interim or final
protection order in terms of the Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act no 116 of 1998) or
Protection from Harassment Act, 2011 (Act No 17 of 2011), and may be disqualified from
appointment.
❖ Applicants to take note that Section 8 of the Public Administration Management Act of
2014 and the Public Service Regulations, 2016 prohibits employees from doing business
with the State. Should the applicant have a company doing business with the State, she/he
will deregister the business from the Central Supplier Database (CSD) of State organs or
relinquish the Directorship from the said business, either prior to enlistment as an entry
level Police Trainee, or within one month after being enlisted in the SAPS. Non-adherence
will lead to the termination of the Memorandum of Agreement entered with the South
African Police Service.
❖ Applicants to take note that remunerative work such as within the taxi, liquor and security
industries, etc. are prohibited in the South African Police Service in terms of Chapter 4 of
National Instruction 18 of 2019: Integrity Management.
❖ Applicants performing other remunerative work outside the Public Service will be required
to apply for authorisation within the first month of entering into the Memorandum of
Agreement and non-adherence to the mentioned National Instruction may lead to
termination of the Memorandum of Agreement entered into with the South African Police
Service.
❖ Correspondence will be conducted with successful applicants only. If an applicant
has not been contacted within 3 months after the closing date of this advertisement,
it should be accepted that such applicant was unsuccessful in his or her
application.
❖ Applicants accept that a limited number of posts is available and being subjected to
the selection processes is not a guarantee for appointment.
❖ Applicants should take note that they are limited to one application. The system is
restricted and will only accept one application.
❖ The South African Police Service is under no obligation to appoint any person who
applied for appointment / enlistment.
❖ Applicants are cautioned not to pay any fee to any person for participating in the
SAPS recruitment processes.

❖ The closing date is 13 November 2026.

Click here to apply

We wish you all the best with your applications