Who doesn’t want to be a hero?
SAPS advertises police and civilian careers through its official website. The 2026/27 police-trainee campaign, reference TRA26/27, lists 5,500 positions and an application window of 21 October to 13 November 2026. Check the official vacancy for eligibility and any changes.
But being a hero isn’t just putting on a great uniform. There’s maintaining law and order, preventing crime, and investigating offences against the law. There’s also the entire infrastructure that maintains it, from administration and secretarial duties to cleaning services. No matter what your role, a SAPS career helps you make the world a little better.
This post will offer a step-by-step guide to beginning your own hero story. We will look at the huge variety of SAPS careers available and how to apply for a SAPS career. This includes info about the SAPS application form and tips on the new requirements. As a bonus, here are some hints on the South African Police Service psychometric test.
Let’s get started!
SAPS career Streams and Vacancies You Could Fill.
SAPS recruits across races and genders and describes itself as an equal-opportunity employer. Selection depends on the requirements in the current advertisement. Older recruitment statements should not be treated as current vacancy notices.
If you fit this bill and are willing to give service to the community, consider the following SAPS careers:
SAPS career Stream 1: Police Official.
Pay: The advertised TRA26/27 training stipend is R5,000 per month. This is a trainee stipend, rather than the salary for every police post.
Your career as a SAPS police official will be focused on preventing and combating crime. The Police Officials are the frontline, the most visible members of SAPS.
After Initial Training
- Uniformed Police Official
- This is the basic level all recruits start at.
Further SAPS Career Opportunities
- DPCI Investigator
- Bomb Technician
- Equestrian Unit
- Dog Handling
- Detective
- Air Wing
- Hostage Negotiator
- Forensic Scientists
SAPS career Stream 2: Civilian Employees.
Pay: Varies with the level of responsibility and qualification/training.
Your career as a SAPS civilian employee will be providing functional support to police officials. This includes tasks such as administration, clerical work, supply management and custodial duties.
SAPS Civilian Employee Career Opportunities
- Personnel Administration
- Procurement
- Clerical Duties
- Financial Administration
- Typing
- Secretarial Duties
- Messenger Service
- Cleaning Services
For more information on these careers and more, you should head to saps.gov.za.
Just scroll to the bottom of the Careers section and select the booklets to download the brochure.
Requirements for SAPS career Stream 1 and 2.
These are police-trainee requirements; civilian posts have their own advertised criteria:
- Be a South African citizen.
- You must have matric (National Senior Certificate or NSC);
- A Grade 12 certificate or equivalent qualification is required. Able to use two Official Languages; one must be English.
- Between the ages of 18 and 35.
- Have no criminal record; submit to fingerprinting and background check.
- No tattoos visible in uniform, as specified in the current advertisement.
- Swear an Oath of Office.
- An Oath of Office is (like any oath) a legal promise. You must promise to act responsibly with your authority on the pain of legal action.
- Submit to Medical Examination.
- Pass a South African Police Service Psychometric Test and interview.
You must also realise that if your SAPS application is successful, you must be willing to undergo extra training.
You must also be willing to be sent where you are needed, meaning relocating to anywhere in South Africa.
SAPS career Stream 1 Special Requirement:
- Pass a basic Fitness Assessment and Medical Test.
- Male candidates must:
- Historical exercise example: Run 2.4 kilometres in 13 minutes or less. Confirm the current assessment standard in your SAPS invitation.
- Historical exercise example: Complete 30 push-ups in 1 minute or less. Confirm the current assessment standard in your SAPS invitation.
- Historical exercise example: Perform 45 sit-ups in 1 minute or less. Confirm the current assessment standard in your SAPS invitation.
- Historical exercise example: Complete 10 shuttle runs in 1 minute or less. Confirm the current assessment standard in your SAPS invitation.
- Female candidates must:
- Historical exercise example: Run 2.4 kilometres in 15 minutes and 30 seconds. Confirm the current assessment standard in your SAPS invitation.
- Historical exercise example: Complete 21 push-ups in 1 minute or less. Confirm the current assessment standard in your SAPS invitation.
- Historical exercise example: Perform 31 sit-ups in 1 minute or less. Confirm the current assessment standard in your SAPS invitation.
- Historical exercise example: Complete 10 shuttle runs in 70 seconds or less. Confirm the current assessment standard in your SAPS invitation.
- Male candidates must:
How to Apply for a SAPS career.
Apply for TRA26/27 through the official SAPS eRecruitment portal. Other police or civilian vacancies may use different forms and submission methods, as stated in their advertisements.
- Look through local newspapers in the careers section.
- Vacancies may appear in newspapers, but verify each advertisement on the official SAPS website.
- Careers are also advertised on their website here.
- SAPS vacancies in the papers/online have a “POST NUMBER / REF NUMBER”.
- Write this down; it’s vital for your application form.
- Read the current SAPS application instructions.
- For TRA26/27, complete the online application; use paper forms only where the specific vacancy requires them.
- The form is extensive. I recommend you read it through several times before filling it in. Take your time and do it properly.
- Incomplete or inaccurate applications can be rejected; check all required fields before submitting.
- When in doubt, ask a SAPS member for help.
- Make a copy of the following:
- Your 13-Digit Smart ID Card,
- Your driver’s licence, if applicable,
Your matric Certificate (NSC)/
- Grade 12 or equivalent qualification certificate,
- Any additional qualifications, and
- Proof of residence.
- Complete the declaration and any certification required by the specific application instructions.
- TIP: Take all the documents you need to your local South African Police Service station and sign them before a SAPS officer.
- Only successful applicants will be contacted; the advert uses three months after the closing date as its response period.
- If not contacted within three months after the closing date, regard the application as unsuccessful, as stated in the advert.
Steps After a Successful SAPS application.
If you pass the SAPS application stage, you will be assessed in person. The SAPS assessment centre will put you through several skills tests. As part of the process, there will also be an interview.
Assessment may cover the following types of reasoning; this is not an official guarantee of four separate tests:
- Numerical reasoning: How well you work with numbers.
- Verbal reasoning: Understanding words and communication.
- Comprehension: Speed-reading to find important info. You will be timed.
- South African Police Service Psychometric Test.
In the interview, they will ask questions about your knowledge of SAPS, why you think you’ll be a good member and your plans for the future.
The South African Police Service Psychometric Test
Psychometric assessment is one part of selection, alongside fitness, integrity and medical screening and an interview. Follow your invitation for the assessment order and content.
Reasoning practice can include shapes, patterns and sequences. The assessment instructions determine the actual tasks and time limits.
I recommend you look up more information online about psychometric tests and prepare yourself well.
TIP: Prepare using reputable reasoning practice and SAPS instructions. A commercial preparation course is optional and is not a SAPS appointment requirement.
APS Career Stream 1, Second Phase: Basic Police Learning Program (BLDP).
Successful police trainees follow the training and probation arrangements specified for their intake:
- Complete the academy training required for your intake.
- Training duration depends on the intake and relevant qualifications.
- You’ll learn basic police skills like firearms training, group tactics, responding to civilians etc.
- After successful training, follow the appointment and probation arrangements for your intake.
- Complete the prescribed probation and assessment requirements; confirmation depends on successful completion.
For the 2026/27 recruitment drive, SAPS announced six months of academy training for successful recruits with a relevant NQF level 6 or higher qualification and nine months for those without one. Check the appointment documents for benefits and subsequent probation.
New Requirements for SAPS recruitment
Integrity assessment is included in the current trainee selection requirements.
Applicants also undergo vetting and background verification under the advertised conditions.
Screening can include the following checks; follow the current advertisement and any lawful instructions given to you:
- Fingerprinting
- Take a buccal sample (cheek swab) to analyse your DNA profile;
- Security vetting and integrity assessment as prescribed;
- Provide accurate information requested during lawful screening.
Also Read: How to Get Police Clearance Certificate in South Africa
Conclusion: ‘
The 2026/27 trainee campaign is advertised for 21 October to 13 November 2026. Other vacancies have separate deadlines. Use the official SAPS careers page and eRecruitment portal for current notices.
With many more vacancies still remaining in SAPS, the questions are: what can you do to make our country a better place? Are you ready to be a hero?
As always, drop a comment if you have any questions or experiences with SAPS applications. I hope this informative step-by-step guide helps you, and share it with any potential heroes you know.
