Speaking at Philippi Academy, Deputy Minister of Police Polly Boshielo stated, “the training of these new Constables is part of our government’s efforts to strengthen the SAPS and enhance police visibility in all communities as we move with speed to advance our crime fighting initiatives.”

Further, she announced additional Constables who commenced their training in April, are currently undergoing training at various SAPS Academies throughout the country and will have their pass out parades in December.

Graduates at the Oudtshoorn SAPS Academy were welcomes by Deputy National Commissioner of Crime Detection, Lt General Sibiya, who emphasised the government’s commitment “to [ensuring] South Africa achieves the United Nations recommendation of one Police Officer for every 220 people.”

As of 2023, the police-to-population ratio stands 1:423, with Lt General Sibiya adding “we still need to work harder to recruit more Police Officers.”

Both Deputy Minister Boshielo and Lt General Sibiya underscored how the recruits are a “crucial part of our efforts to combat and prevent emerging crime trends.”

The new Constables will be deployed to police stations and specialised units throughout the country, including Public Order Police (POP), Visible Police (VISPOL), and the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit. “This deployment is essential in bolstering our capacity to fight crime, addressing new crime trends, and tackling surges of old ones,” said Lt General Sibiya.

Lt General Sibiya further urged the new Constables “to remain vigilant and tactically alert at all times.” As criminals have become increasingly aggressive, Lt General Sibiya stated the safety of officers is paramount.

“Remember the street survival training, firearm use and tactical policing skills you have acquired during your training. I am informed that you have gained substantial insights into the legislation that governs policing and being a police officer. I therefore implore you to execute your duties within the confines of the law, resisting any temptation to engage in corruption or unethical conduct. Wear your uniform with pride and dignity and adhere to the SAPS Code of Conduct which you read earlier,” said Lt General Sibiya.

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Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the recruitment and selection process for the 2024/2025 financial year was finalised.

“The first batch of 4500 trainees will report for training at the various South African Police Service (SAPS) academies on 22 April.”

“The second batch of 5500 recruits will commence with training in January 2025; this process is yet to be finalised.  Applicants are henceforth requested to be patient and await communique from the SAPS.”

For the 2024/2025 recruitment, the SAPS received more than one million applications.

Brigadier Athlenda Mathe

Mathe said the recruitment and selection of suitable candidates who conform to all the basic requirements was of “paramount importance to the continued success of the work and mandate of the SAPS.”

“Final selection is based on merit and the process is free from bias, nepotism, and discrimination. Upon completing the Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP), the newly trained Constables will reinforce policing capacity at high-crime stations, detective units and specialised units, such as Public Order Policing  (POPs).”

Three years ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa called for enhanced police personnel capacity to combat crime.

“This prompted the SAPS to undertake a vigorous national recruitment and selection process known as Project 10000. The SAPS has in the last two years trained and deployed 20 000 police officers to stations and units to bolster policing and efforts to prevent and combat crime,” Mathe said.

The SAPS 2024/25 Annual Performance Plan, tabled three weeks ago, revealed that the force cannot keep up with the country’s growing population

For every 427 South Africans, there is just one police officer.

As the population increased from an estimated 54 million in 2014, to 62 million in 2022, so the actual workforce that was deployed at the frontline to prevent, investigate and combat crime, uphold and enforce the law and protect and secure the people of the country and their property, declined from 152977, in 2014/15, to 140 048, in 2021/22,” the report said.

Government allocated additional funding to the tune of R8.7 billion during 2022/23 to “extend and rejuvenate SAPS’ staff establishment through the recruitment of 12000 additional personnel members.”

“Total expenditure is expected to increase at an average annual rate of 5.8 percent, from R105.5 billion in 2023/24 to R124.8 billion in 2026/27, mainly to provide for the carry-through costs of the 2023/24 public sector wage agreement, the department is set to receive additional allocations amounting to R22 billion over the next three years.”

“The number of personnel is set to increase from 183708 in 2023/24 to 186538 in 2026/27. This will be done by appointing a targeted 10 000 police trainees in 2024/25 and absorbing them as constables upon their successful completion of training against which the natural attrition of employees should be discounted,” the report said.

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