The South African Police Service has recorded a strong response to its latest online recruitment drive, with more than 300,000 profile registrations captured in just over three days since the process opened on 21 October 2026.

Of these, more than 232,000 applicants have completed the profile verification process, while over 190,000 have initiated their applications. A total of 172,721 applications have already been completed and submitted through the SAPS eRecruitment portal for the 5500 available police trainee posts.

Female applicants lead submissions

Female applicants account for more than 95,000 of the submissions received so far, while male applicants have submitted over 76,000 applications.

Applications by racial group

Applications received per racial group stand at approximately 160,000 from African applicants, 11,000 from Coloured applicants, 600 from Indian applicants and 150 from White applicants.

Provincial breakdown of applications

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

Portal performance and applicant guidance

The SAPS mentioned that the high volume of traffic on the eRecruitment portal may result in delays or slower response times for those trying to register or submit applications. The portal remains operational, and the SAPS Technology Management Services division, working with its technology partners, is managing the increased demand around the clock to keep the system functioning.

The SAPS added that applicants who have successfully submitted their applications are assured that their submissions remain valid and that no further action is required from them. The SAPS has appealed to prospective applicants to remain patient when accessing the portal at https://erecruitment.saps.gov.za and to avoid repeated attempts to register or submit applications, as this places additional pressure on the system. Only those who have not received an acknowledgement email should consider reapplying. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to apply outside peak hours to minimise delays and to rely exclusively on official SAPS communication channels for accurate recruitment information and updates.

Closing date

The online recruitment drive closes on Friday, 13 November 2026. Prospective applicants are encouraged to complete and submit their applications well before the closing date.