Government & Public Sector - SAPS

SAPS Police Trainee Learnership 2026

Two years of training across SAPS Academies and a service station, leading to permanent appointment as a Constable in the South African Police Service.

By GoCareers Team • • 12 min read

SAPS recruits via hand-delivered applications only

Status: Annual intake - watch SAPS recruitment notices and provincial newspapers

🚀 SAPS Careers portal 📋 Check requirements

Programme Overview

Programme Details

Provider:South African Police Service
Duration:24 months
NQF level:NQF Level 5 (Basic Police Development Learning Programme)
Stipend:R3 175 per month for the first 10 months at the SAPS Academy, then R7 275 per month for months 11-24
Locations:SAPS Academies - Pretoria, Bhisho, Oudtshoorn, Philippi, others
Positions:Approx. 5,000-10,000 trainees per intake (national)

Why join SAPS?

  • ✓Direct pathway to a permanent Public Service Act appointment as Constable
  • ✓Medical aid, housing allowance and pension once appointed
  • ✓Internal pathways into detective work, K9, FCS, Hawks (DPCI) and Crime Intelligence
  • ✓SAPS-funded tertiary upgrades (e.g. BPolSci) for serving members
  • ✓Deployment opportunities across all nine provinces

Entry Requirements

  • ✓South African citizen by birth or naturalisation (no dual citizenship)
  • ✓Age 18-30 (graduate stream up to 35 for specialised qualifications)
  • ✓Grade 12 (NSC) - Maths Literacy accepted
  • ✓No criminal record, no pending criminal cases
  • ✓No visible tattoos when in uniform
  • ✓Medically, mentally and physically fit (PEET - Physical Exercise Evaluation Test)
  • ✓Be able to swim
  • ✓Valid driver’s licence (advantageous; required by date of appointment)
  • ✓Willing to be deployed anywhere in South Africa
  • ✓Willing to undergo a polygraph test

Programme Structure

1

Basic training (Phase 1)

Approx. 12 months

Residential basic police training at a SAPS Academy - drill, law, firearms, defensive tactics, community policing, first aid and SAPS values.

📍 SAPS Academy (Pretoria / Bhisho / Oudtshoorn / Philippi)

2

Workplace training (Phase 2)

Approx. 12 months

Practical service at a SAPS station - Community Service Centre, patrols, detective shadowing, court duty - under qualified field training officers.

📍 Allocated SAPS police station

3

Appointment as Constable

On successful completion

Trainees who pass all assessments are appointed as Constables and absorbed into permanent SAPS posts.

📍 Anywhere in South Africa (deployment by SAPS)

Career Pathways inside SAPS

After basic appointment as a Constable, internal promotion and specialisation pathways include:

Constable (entry-level appointment)
Sergeant after a few years of service
Detective (after detective course)
Public Order Policing
K9 / Mounted Unit
Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS)
Crime Intelligence
Forensic Services
Specialised units (TRT, Hawks/DPCI - after additional service)

Documents to Submit

  • 📄Original SAPS-issued application form (signed and dated)
  • 📄Certified copy of SA ID
  • 📄Certified copy of Grade 12 / NSC certificate
  • 📄Certified copies of any tertiary qualifications
  • 📄Certified copy of driver’s licence (if held)
  • 📄Certified copy of any swimming/lifesaving certificates
  • 📄Detailed CV with three contactable references
  • 📄Proof of residence
  • 📄Sworn affidavit declaring criminal record (or absence thereof)

Application Process

1

Wait for the annual recruitment advert

SAPS publishes its trainee advert nationally - Government Gazette, major newspapers (Sunday Times, City Press, Sowetan), SAPS Facebook page and saps.gov.za/careers.

Once per year - typically early in the year
2

Download and complete the official Z83 / SAPS application form

Use only the SAPS-issued application form for the advertised intake. Fill it in by hand in black pen - do not type, do not use Tipp-Ex.

Within the advert window
3

Hand-deliver your application to your nearest SAPS station

SAPS does not accept online applications for the basic trainee programme - applications must be hand-delivered to a SAPS station in the province you wish to be considered in.

Before the published closing date - late or posted applications are rejected
4

Shortlisting and PEET (Physical Exercise Evaluation Test)

Shortlisted candidates are invited to a centralised assessment day: physical fitness test, interview, fingerprinting and medical screening.

Several weeks to months after closing
5

Vetting - criminal record, polygraph, integrity

SAPS runs SAPS Criminal Record Centre checks, integrity assessments and a polygraph. Any pending case or undeclared record disqualifies you.

Pre-appointment
6

Report to the SAPS Academy

Successful trainees sign a learnership contract and report to one of the SAPS Academies for residential basic training.

Cohort start announced in advert

⚠️ SAPS Recruitment - Avoid Scams

• SAPS never charges an application fee - anyone asking for money to “guarantee” a trainee post is a scammer

• SAPS recruits via hand-delivered applications to police stations during the official advert window only

• Applications are not accepted by email, post or WhatsApp for the basic trainee programme

• Tattoos that show in uniform are an automatic disqualifier - be honest in your declaration

• Any false statement on the application form is grounds for dismissal even after appointment

Where to Find the Official Advert

SAPS Recruitment

🌐 saps.gov.za/careers

📞 SAPS Recruitment Office: 012 393 1000 (switchboard)

📰 Government Gazette + major newspapers (Sunday Times, City Press, Sowetan)

📘 Official SAPS Facebook page

← Back to all learnerships