SAPS opens doors of opportunity for all South Africans to join its dynamic team. One of the available career options you can choose from is the basic police learnership programme.
The training allows you to learn about law enforcement and SAPS in depth.
In this guide, you can learn about the learnership you will take to become a police officer with SAPS.
We will present everything you need to know about the programme, including what to expect from the training, its structure, and how you can apply for it.
Without further ado, let’s dive into it right away.
About SAPS Police Learnership Programme
The South African Police Service (SAPS) runs a free police learnership programme for all participants who are interested in joining the team.
This program will last for 24 months.
During the training, all participants will undergo a police learnership programme called the SAPS Basic Police Development Learning Program (BPDLP).
By applying to this program, participants can expect to gain a wide range of valuable skills to further their careers in the police force.
Through this training, you will be able to:
- Use a set of police and legal skills to carry out your duties as a future police officer; and
- Provide a more effective service to increase community satisfaction.
Plus, the programme will enable you to protect the members of the communities you serve under the South African Constitution.
In addition, upon completing this SAPS learnership, you will be able to smoothly carry out your mission of creating a safe and secure environment for all who live throughout the country.
During the first phase, you will receive a stipend of 3,715 ZAR every month. The academy will also provide you with free meals and accommodation. Plus, SAPS will register you with POLMED medical aid for free.
Then, during the second and third phases, you will receive a stipend of 7,275 ZAR per month. It is also at this stage that you will be entitled to more benefits, such as pension funds, leaves, allowances, and many others.
On your permanent appointment after completing the training, you will receive a stipend of 10,307 ZAR per month.
The Available Courses
You will be placed in one of the SAPS academies. There, you can focus on acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills during the first twelve months.
Then, the real thing begins after completion of the first phase, where the police learnership programme will be run on the workplace.
That way, you will get direct exposure at a station.
You must complete the learnership and pass the assessment to permanently join with SAPS as a constable.
Currently, BPDLP is available at the following SAPS-accredited academies throughout South Africa:
- All Saints (Eastern Cape)
- Bhisho (Eastern Cape)
- Graaff-Reinet (Eastern Cape)
- Mthatha (Eastern Cape)
- Chatsworth (KwaZulu-Natal)
- Ulundi (KwaZulu-Natal)
- Tshwane (Gauteng)
- Bishop Lavis (Western Cape)
- Oudtshoorn (Western Cape)
- Philippi (Western Cape)
SAPS Police Learnership Programme Qualification
To qualify for the learnership, you must:
- Be a permanent resident of the Republic of South Africa;
- Have a Senior Certificate (Grade 12) or an equivalent qualification;
- Be fluent in, at least, English and one other official language;
- Have the willingness to be sworn in by the office;
- Be between the ages of 18 to 30 years old;
- Not have any visible tattoos;
- Be prepared to have your background checked; and
- Not have any past criminal track record.
Then, once you are accepted as a permanent police officer, you must be willing to serve anywhere in South Africa.
Also, you will need some key skills to be a police trainee.
After all, the programme is not for everyone.
First of all, the skill to communicate effectively is a definite must for a police officer.
This is especially true when you are dealing with members of the public.
For example, in potentially unsafe situations, you need to be firm and clear in your instructions.
On the other hand, you must be able to extract important information when dealing with a witness.
Also, as a police officer, you never know what kind of situation you might be in on any given day.
Thus, you must be able to think quickly and clearly on your feet and make the right decisions under pressure.
Most importantly, it is crucial that you maintain a basic level of physical health.
This is especially true for junior police officers.
However, it’s not just about being able to look after yourself out on the ground.
Police work can be very stressful.
It also involves long hours.
Hence, the fitter you are physically the better.
Also, you will be able to easily cope with the demands of your work.
SAPS Learnership Requirements
All participants must submit the following documents as a requirement to apply to the BPDLP:
- A copy of the Senior Certificate (Grade 12)
- An ID document
- A copy of the birth certificate
- An application form
- A medical record
- Other relevant qualifications
- A Police Clearance Report (PCR)
If you need guidance on how to obtain a PCR, please read these instructions: Applying for a Police Clearance Report.
SAPS Police Learnership Programme Application
SAPS usually advertises the application windows for its police learnership programme in the media.
These include newspapers and on its own website.
If you are interested in applying to this training, then look for these advertisements.
Also, you can visit one of the SAPS academies as mentioned in the previous list.
For more information visit the official SAPS website at www.saps.gov.za.
