JOHANNESBURG – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has received more than 185,000 applications for just 5,500 available posts, reflecting the country’s worsening unemployment crisis, particularly among the youth.
According to SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the surge in applications was recorded within just 48 hours of opening the Basic Police Learning Development Training Programme (BPLDTP) recruitment window.
Gauteng topped the list with over 53,000 applications, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 30,000, Limpopo with 20,000, Eastern Cape with 19,000, and Mpumalanga with 18,000. The Western Cape recorded 17,000 applications, while Free State, North West, and Northern Cape received 14,000, 11,000, and 4,000 respectively.
Women made up the majority of applicants, with more than 105,000 submissions, compared to just over 80,000 from men.
SAPS says it welcomes the public’s response and interest in joining the service, noting that the influx of applications has slowed down its online platform. Applicants are being advised to continue refreshing the careers page should they experience delays.
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