PRETORIA – The South African Police Service (SAPS) recruitment drive has shattered expectations, with applications for the Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPLDP) surpassing the 927 000 mark as the submission deadline looms today (18 July).
With less than 24 hours remaining before the application window closes permanently, the overwhelming response highlights South Africa’s urgent need for employment opportunities and the public’s willingness to serve in law enforcement.
Women lead the charge in police recruitment
The statistics reveal a remarkable trend in gender representation, with female applicants significantly outnumbering their male counterparts. Women account for 527 673 applications, representing approximately 57% of all submissions, while male applicants total 400 204.
This gender split reflects a broader shift in South African policing, with more women seeking careers in law enforcement than ever before.
Provincial application breakdown: Gauteng dominates
Gauteng province leads the recruitment drive with over 240 000 applications, demonstrating the province’s high unemployment rates and interest in police careers. The provincial breakdown reveals:
- Gauteng: 240 000+ applications
- KwaZulu-Natal: 179 000+ applications
- Limpopo: 102 000+ applications
- Eastern Cape: 93 000+ applications
- Mpumalanga: 89 000+ applications
- Western Cape: 76 000+ applications
- Free State: 64 000+ applications
- North West: 57 000+ applications
- Northern Cape: 22 000+ applications
Limited spaces create fierce competition
Despite the massive response, only 5 500 training positions are available, creating intense competition among applicants. This means that fewer than 1% of applicants will successfully secure a place in the programme.
The selection process will be rigorous, with successful candidates required to undergo psychometric assessments, integrity evaluations, physical fitness tests, medical examinations and more.
Driver’s licence statistics reveal preparedness
An encouraging 261 255 applicants possess valid South African driver’s licences, indicating a significant portion of candidates meet basic mobility requirements for police work.
“The SAPS wishes all applicants the best in this process,” said Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. “It should be noted that not everyone will make it to the selection process due to limited space availability on the training program.”
What this means for South African policing
The unprecedented response to the SAPS recruitment drive reflects both the country’s employment challenges and citizens’ commitment to public service. With nearly one million applications for fewer than 6 000 positions, the police service will have the opportunity to select from an exceptionally large pool of candidates.
The high percentage of female applicants also signals a positive shift toward gender transformation within South African law enforcement, potentially bringing diverse perspectives and skills to policing communities across the country.
As the application deadline approaches, unsuccessful candidates are encouraged to consider alternative career paths in security and law enforcement, while SAPS prepares for what promises to be one of the most competitive selection processes in the organisation’s history.
