South African Police Service (SAPS)

Mandate

SAPS is responsible for preventing, combating, and investigating crime, maintaining public order, and protecting the population and their property. It operates through police stations, specialised units, and provincial and national structures.

Structure

SAPS employs both uniformed police officials (who go through the SAPS training academy and follow the police service rank structure, not the standard Level 1-16 scale) and civilian public service employees in administrative, support, and specialist roles.

Career paths

Uniformed entry is typically through the annual SAPS recruitment intake with its own selection and training process, distinct from applying to an advertised PSC Circular post. Civilian support roles are advertised through the normal government vacancy process.