Central SA
New police training applications: Central South Africa sees lowest numbers─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 06:00 Sun, 20 Jul 2025
The South African Police Service has received an overwhelming number of applications for its 2025/26 Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP).
Over one million applications were submitted for its 2025/26 Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP), which closed at midnight on Friday (18/7).
A total of 1,049,998 applications were submitted for the police training programme. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that 334,765 of these applicants already possess an NQF Level 6 (Diploma) or higher qualification, reflecting a keen interest among qualified young people in joining the force.
While the number of applications has been impressive nationwide, there have been stark regional disparities, with three provinces in Central South Africa submitting the lowest number of applicants. The Free State received 73,214 applications, North West had 66,167, and the Northern Cape had the lowest number, with just 26,186 applicants.
Meanwhile, Gauteng topped the list with a massive 267,031 applications. KwaZulu-Natal followed closely with 205,802, and Limpopo recorded 115,877 submissions. The Eastern Cape also showed strong interest, with 108,709 applications, while Mpumalanga and the Western Cape submitted 100,516 and 86,496, respectively.
The SAPS also reported a healthy gender balance in the applications received. A total of 595,049 female applicants submitted their profiles, making up nearly 57% of the total pool. Meanwhile, 454,949 male applicants applied, accounting for the remaining 43%.
While the influx of applications is encouraging, SAPS faces a daunting challenge, particularly in provinces like the Free State, where more than 600,000 criminal cases remain unresolved due to a severe shortage of police capacity.
As previously reported by OFM News, police detectives in the province are buckling under the strain of excessive workloads, with the average detective handling 395 cases – nearly four times the recommended caseload of 100 cases per officer.
With the application process now closed, Mathe confirmed that the selection process will begin soon. Applicants whose profiles meet the necessary qualifications and requirements will be contacted within three months. However, due to the high volume of applications, those who do not meet the criteria will unfortunately not be notified.
