Pretoria: The South African Police Service (SAPS) has responded to queries on new police trainee recruitment for 2024/2025. This follows a number of enquiries regarding the finalisation of the 2024/2025 recruitment and selection process.

According to South African Government News Agency, the SAPS announced that the arrival of trainees at various SAPS academies commenced last week Monday, with 3,359 trainees currently undergoing training. A second group of successful candidates will be notified in writing to report for training. The SAPS also confirmed that the remaining 2,186 trainees will commence training before the end of February 2025.

The SAPS stated that due to the high number of trainees, a staggered approach has been adopted to accommodate their arrival at academies nationwide. All applicants who have undergone the recruitment and selection process are advised to remain patient as they await further communication. Earlier this month, SAPS noted that over the past three years, it has successfully trained and deployed over 20,000 new constables in various units across the country, aiming to boost policing efforts and enhance public safety.

Providing an update on the SAPS Nationwide Safer Festive Season Operations during a media briefing in Pretoria, National Commissioner for the South African Police Service, General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola, highlighted that in mid-December last year, 2,699 newly trained constables joined the ranks. These police officers contributed to crime combatting operations during a significantly busy period for the SAPS, ensuring the safety and security of communities, holidaymakers, and tourists.

During the festive season, the police arrested 244,951 people for crimes such as murder, rape, assault, illegal possession of firearms, drug dealing, driving under the influence, and entering the country illegally. The SAPS safer festive season operations commenced on 11 October 2024 and ended on Friday, 31 January 2025.