In a strategic move to boost job opportunities and bolster security, the South African Police Service (SAPS) is set to recruit and train 10,000 new police officers for the 2024/2025 financial year. This initiative, beginning in July 2023, targets young South Africans between 18 and 30, offering them a meaningful career in law enforcement. This is part of SAPS’s broader objective to enhance the country’s security infrastructure while simultaneously addressing high unemployment rates among the youth.
In a significant boost to South Africa’s job market and security sector, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has announced a substantial recruitment initiative for the 2024/2025 financial year. Commencing in July 2023, SAPS will recruit and train 10,000 new police officers, offering employment opportunities to young South Africans amid an environment challenged by high unemployment rates. This ambitious initiative, dubbed #Project10K, will provide promising career paths to young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30.
In a recent media statement issued by the Office of the National Commissioner, SAPS revealed the successful integration of 552 newly trained constables, forming part of a cohort of 10,000 officers that have been deployed since December 2022. This milestone indicates SAPS’s commitment to not only enhancing the country’s security infrastructure but also creating significant employment opportunities for the nation’s youth.
In an encouraging move, the SAPS has managed to incorporate a large number of Bachelor of Science (BSc) graduates into the force, with 245 of the new constables boasting this qualification. The majority have already been placed in various roles within the Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) Division, serving as Forensic Analysts. In these critical roles, they will be responsible for the analysis of forensic evidence used in court to secure convictions against those found guilty of crimes.
Apart from the graduate recruits, SAPS has also welcomed several reservists who have now become fully fledged constables. These officers will be deployed at various stations, bolstering the grassroots level of policing and improving the reach and efficiency of the service.
To celebrate the graduation of these new officers, passing out parades were held simultaneously at various SAPS academies in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape. The ceremonies were presided over by the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, and the Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale, underscoring the significance of the event.
Further augmenting the force, SAPS currently has 8,600 trainees undergoing the Basic Police Learning Development Programme (BPLDP), with an additional 400 set to commence training in July, and the remaining 1,000 beginning their training journey in January 2024.
Meanwhile, the recruitment and training of the next wave of 10,000 police officers for the 2024/2025 financial year will commence in July 2023. Applications are open to young men and women aged between 18 and 30, who possess a senior certificate and have no criminal record. Successful applicants will commence their training in April 2024.
The #Project10K recruitment drive forms part of a broader SAPS strategy to enhance law enforcement’s operational capacity under the #MoreBootsOnTheGround initiative. This concerted effort aims to increase police visibility and presence, thereby deterring criminal activity and enabling quicker responses to incidents.
Prospective candidates are encouraged to follow SAPS’s official channels for further information on the application process.
