The South African Police Service announced this week it would be recruiting 5 500 men and women as trainees, targeting applicants from under-represented racial groups.

In a media statement issued by Col Amanda van Wyk on Wednesday 21 October, when the online application process opened, the police indicated their targeted-recruitment process would seek to “identify suitably qualified young people from underrepresented racial groups.”

Demographics

Under-represented racial groups in the police service came under the spotlight in Parliament last week.

Media such as The Citizen reported that the Police Ministry had confirmed in a written parliamentary response last week that the sector had an employment-equity target of 80,93% black, 8,88% coloured, 7,70% white and 2,49% Indian.

eNCA reported today (Thursday 22 October) that the police were looking to recruit more white, Indian and coloured officers, as these groups were under-represented.

The newspaper Die Burger reported last week that the national police denied marginalising white, coloured and Indian recruits.

It said Prof Firoz Cachalia, Acting Police Minister had indicated in last week’s parliamentary response that the under-representation of people from minority groups was not the result of marginalising, but rather because too few white, coloured and Indian people apply to become police officers. The newspaper reported that only 5,5% of the more than a million applications received to fill the 5 500 new-recruit posts were from the three race groups.

Furthermore, Cachalia mentioned some of the applicants also did not meet the prescribed minimum intake requirements.

Of the police’s most recent intake white officers accounted for 1,4%, Indian officers 1,2% and coloured 6,4%, compared to the 91% black constables, Die Burger said.

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Application

Applicants for the new recruit intake must be older than 18 and under 35 years of age. The nationwide online recruitment drive opened on Wednesday 21 October and closes on Friday 13 November, the police said.

Applicants may not have a criminal record or pending criminal cases.

The police said it was looking for more than just a uniform, but rather young people who can bring knowledge, skills, fresh perspectives and a commitment to excellence to the fight against crime.

Last November saw 444 black recruits, 295 coloured, one Indian recruit and one white graduate.

According to news reports the police received 1 049 998 million applications during the 2026 application window. Of these 992 075 (94,48%) were black, 1 079 (0,10%) white, 53 797 (5,12%) coloured and 3 047 (0,29%) Indian.

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