By Dylan Bettemcourt
- South African Police Service website crashed under pressure as thousands rushed to apply for only 5,500 training spots.
- Men and women aged 18 to 35 with no criminal record can apply online until 18 July.
The South African Police Service was flooded with applications as its new online system went live.
Within 24 hours, more than 67,000 hopefuls applied for just 5,500 trainee positions in the 2024/25 recruitment drive.
The rush caused the website to slow down, frustrating many users.
“The website continues to receive large volumes,” the police said. They urged applicants to stay calm and keep refreshing the page. IT teams are monitoring the site to keep it running.
This is the first time the police have used an online-only system to hire new recruits.
Men and women aged between 18 and 35 with clean criminal records can apply. Applications close on 18 July.
Those who make it through will face a tough selection process. It includes fitness tests, psychometric tests and medical screening.
If accepted, recruits will receive nine months of training and earn R4,500 a month during the programme.
Pictured above: The police force.
Image source: Supplied
