As South Africa marked Youth Day on 16 June 2025, the South African Police Service (SAPS) announced a significant milestone: over 30,393 young people have been recruited and trained as police officers over the past three years through the SAPS Project 10 000 initiative.
Led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Project 10 000 aims to bolster crime prevention efforts across the country by enlisting youth between the ages of 18 and 35 into various law enforcement roles. The majority of the newly trained officers are now deployed at local police stations and community service centres (CSCs) — the critical first points of contact for victims of crime.
“This is where police visibility is most needed, and I am pleased that young people remain committed to being at the forefront of our crime-fighting efforts,” said General Fannie Masemola, the National Commissioner of SAPS.
The initiative has also strengthened specialised units:
- 4,000 youth are being trained to become detectives,
- 5,000 are serving in the Public Order Police (POP) units managing protests and gatherings,
- 575 work in 10111 call centres handling emergency response coordination, and
- 675 are training as DNA analysts and crime scene experts for SAPS forensic labs and Local Criminal Record Centres.
Additionally, 5,500 trainees are currently enrolled at SAPS academies. Some are expected to graduate in August 2025, with the remaining cohort graduating in December 2025.
General Masemola confirmed that another 5,500 trainee positions will be advertised by the end of June, urging young people to apply.
“The youth within our ranks play a significant role in keeping everyone in this country safe. Some are in search and rescue, tactical response teams, and even serve as lawyers and pilots,” Masemola said. “I urge young people to stay away from drugs, crime, and teenage pregnancy, and to focus on their education so they can contribute to building a safer South Africa.”
The SAPS extended its best wishes to all young people in South Africa, encouraging them to lead the way in creating a crime-free society.
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