PRETORIA – More than 300 000 profile registrations were recorded in just over three days on the national recruitment portal of the South African Police Service (SAPS) as thousands of young South Africans seize the opportunity to pursue a career in policing. This follows after the announcement on 21 October that the SAPS would be recruiting 5 500 men and women as trainees, targeting applicants from under-represented racial groups.

In a media statement issued by Colonel Amanda van Wyk on Saturday 24 October, SAPS reported that it continues to receive an encouraging response to its online recruitment drive.

Of the 300 000 registrations, more than 232 000 applicants have completed the profile verification process, whilst over 190 000 have initiated their applications. To date, 172 721 applications have been successfully completed and submitted via the SAPS eRecruitment portal for the 5 500 available police trainee posts.

According to the statement, the applications received per racial group are as follows: African, 160 000; Coloured, 11 000; Indian, 600; and White, 150.

The provincial breakdown of applications submitted to date shows Gauteng leading with 49 518 applications, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 33 661, Eastern Cape with 17 441, Limpopo with 16 251, Western Cape with 16 249, Mpumalanga with 14 900, Free State with 11 345, North West with 9 179, and Northern Cape with 4 177.

Female applicants account for more than 95 000 of the applications submitted, whilst male applicants have submitted over 76 000 applications since the recruitment drive opened on 21 October.

System under strain

The high volume of traffic on the eRecruitment portal has resulted in delays and slower response times for applicants attempting to register or submit their applications.

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.

SAPS appeals to prospective applicants to exercise patience when accessing the e-recruitment portal and offers the following guidance:

• Avoid repeated attempts to register or submit applications, as this places additional pressure on the system. Only applicants who have not received an acknowledgement email should consider reapplying.
• Apply outside peak hours, where possible, to minimise delays.
• Rely exclusively on official SAPS communication channels for accurate recruitment information and updates.

The online recruitment drive closes on Friday 13 November. Prospective applicants are encouraged to complete and submit their applications well before the closing date.

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