Saps flooded with intake applications

The South African Police Service (Saps) said yesterday it had received 517 000 applications from young people interested in joining the force since opening applications three months ago.

In May, Saps embarked on a recruitment drive across the country for the 2018-2019 basic police learning development programme (BLDP) intake for trainees to be placed across South Africa’s 1 146 police stations.

It said qualifying candidates who conformed to the basic enlistment requirements were being subjected to a thorough screening processes to deter- mine their eligibility to serve as men and women in blue.

At least 63 000 of the applicants have already undergone psychometric testing and those who pass will undergo physical fitness assessments and a final medical examination.

Saps’ deputy national commissioner for human resources management Lieutenant-Gen Bonang Mgwenya said successful candidates in all three assessments would be notified by December 1.

“The high number of applications received is encouraging. Young people are ready to play their part in the fight against crime,” he said. – ANA