The South African Police Service (SAPS) said an overwhelming 1 049 998 aspirants applied for its 2025/26 Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP).
This as applications for the 550 000 training programme positions were sent before the midnight deadline on 18 July 2025. According to the SAPS, a total of 595 049 from female applicants were received with 454 949 submitted by male applicants.
“Gauteng topped the list of the provinces with the most applications with 267 031 followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 205 802. Limpopo is sitting at 115 877 followed by Eastern Cape with 108 709 and Mpumalanga with 100 516. Western Cape is the fifth highest with 86 496 followed by Free State with 73 214. North West applicants are 66 167 with the least applications received from the Northern Cape with 26 186,” said SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
The SAPS highlighted that graduates in fields of Law, Policing, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Forensic Investigation, and Information Technology will be considered for specialised units. From the more than a million submissions, 334 765 applicants are in possession of a NQF 6 (Diploma) and higher qualifications.
“The SAPS website will no longer receive applications, and the organisation wishes all young people well in this journey to join the service. Those whose profiles meet the set requirements will be notified within three months. They will go through various assessments including a psychometric and integrity assessment, physical assessment, medical assessment, and an interview,” explained Mathe.
