Only 1.4% white and 1.2 % Indian candidates in the South African Police Service recruitment intake
Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, said that the 1.4% white and 1.2% Indian candidates in the Police Service recruitment intake were below target.
He shared this information in response to a Parliamentary question from National Assembly member Ashley Sauls.
Sauls pointed to the 1.4% white, 1.2% Indian, and 6.4% coloured recruits in the recent SA Police Service (SAPS) intake.
He asked whether this was a fair representation and composition against the 91% of Black recruits.
He also asked for the reasons for the systematic act of marginalisation, as the intake represents a deviation from the Employment Equity Act, Act 55 of 1998.
Cachalia responded, saying the South African Police Service implements an Employment Equity Plan (EEP) to guide objectives and recruitment processes.
“The current national equity targets are 80.93% Africans, 7.70% Whites, 8.88% Coloureds and 2.49% Indians,” he said.
“The demographic composition of the recent trainee intake does not fully align with these equity targets.”
He explained that this variance is attributable to challenges experienced in attracting sufficient numbers of applications from White, Indian and Coloured candidates.
A contributing factor was the failure of some applicants from these groups to meet the prescribed minimum enlistment requirements.
“To address these challenges, SAPS conducts ongoing career exhibitions, awareness campaigns and targeted recruitment initiatives,” he said.
“These are aimed at promoting the police as an employer of choice and encouraging applications from the groups identified as underrepresented.”
Despite these efforts, recruitment of white, Indian and coloured candidates for entry-level police trainee positions remains limited.
Cachalia added that the SA Police Service does not subscribe to or implement any policy or practice that systematically marginalises any racial group.
“All recruitment processes are conducted in accordance with applicable legislative and policy frameworks,” he said.
“We are guided by the Employment Equity Act, 1998, and are guided by principles of fairness, inclusivity and equal opportunity.”
Racial breakdown of SA Police Service applications
| Race Group | Applications received | Percentage |
| Africans | 992,075 | 94.48% |
| Whites | 1,079 | 0.10% |
| Coloureds | 53,797 | 5.12% |
| Indians | 3,047 | 0.29% |
| Total | 1,049,998 | 100% |
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