NATIONAL NEWS - The police received 535 993 applications from people who wanted to join the service in the 2019/2020 financial year.
But, according to national police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo, the service can only train 5 000 a year and was working on creating the capacity to train “an additional 2 500”.
He said the candidates were being screened as part of a selection process for the basic police training.
“We are hoping to finalise the selection before the end of April,” Naidoo said.
Applications closed on 31 October last year, and “only qualifying candidates who conform to the basic enlistment requirements were currently being subjected to thorough screening processes, to determine their eligibility to serve as men and women in blue”.
He said a number of applicants had already undergone psychometric assessments that included the testing their emotional stability and ability to function in the community service centres of the 1 154 police stations nationwide, and within the broader SAPS community.
“Additionally, the applicant’s level of integrity is also measured which aims to determine the susceptibility of an individual towards corrupt activities.”
Naidoo said the candidates that had successfully undergone the psychometric and integrity tests would proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.
He said recruiting the right candidates to serve as police officers was of paramount importance to the continued success of the work and mandate of the SAPS.
“This recruitment process sets out to ensure that only deserving applicants are chosen based on merit and that this process is free from bias, nepotism and discrimination.”
Naidoo said to ensure transparency, the recruitment process was being monitored by a board of senior police management as well as external stakeholders, including community members.
Naidoo said police were confident “only the best will be selected” as the candidates went through very stringent processes.
He said applicants who had not received any official communiqué from the service within three months from the closing date, should consider their application unsuccessful.
“Successful candidates will be informed once the relevant processes have been completed. While assessments continue, applicants are encouraged to exercise patience.
“It is encouraging to see how many young men and women in South Africa are ready to serve and protect their fellow citizens.”
Naidoo said to ensure that police enlisted disciplined, upright and passionate candidates, only the applicants who met all requirements would be enlisted, “hence the rigorous process that is currently unfolding”.
