SAPS Recruitment: 1 Million Vie for 5,500 Police Jobs

Unprecedented Interest in SAPS Recruitment

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been inundated with over 1 million applications for just 5,500 available positions in its latest recruitment drive—a ratio of approximately 182 applicants per vacancy. National Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed this overwhelming response mirrors previous years' trends, with 1.2 million applicants in 2024 and 600,000 in 2023, reflecting both the dire employment crisis and SAPS's appeal as a stable career path.

READ: Female Officers Outnumber Men in SAPS Top Ranks

Rigorous Selection Process

Brigadier Mathe detailed the five-stage screening protocol designed to identify top candidates:

1. Psychometric testing evaluating mental resilience and decision-making
2. Physical fitness assessments including endurance and strength tests
3. Comprehensive medical examinations
4. Final integrity interviews probing ethical standards
5. In-depth criminal background checks through multiple databases

"We're prioritizing graduates in policing, law, criminology, and forensic sciences to enhance investigative capabilities," Mathe emphasized, signaling SAPS's push for specialized skills amid complex crime challenges.

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Gender Shift in Policing

The recruitment data reveals a transformative demographic shift:

• December's graduation ceremony saw female recruits outnumber males
• Women now hold majority representation in lieutenant general ranks
• Female officers are increasingly deployed to tactical units like Public Order Policing—traditionally male-dominated spaces

This evolution aligns with SAPS's gender mainstreaming strategy, which has seen female participation surge from 12% in specialized units (2015) to 38% currently, while also improving community policing outcomes. The trend underscores how institutional reforms can reshape historically rigid security sector demographics.