For those who want to join South African police, metro police is a popular choice. It attracts a large number of young people who are committed to serving their community and maintaining public order. This passage will introduce what Metro police is, metro police requirements, and how to apply for metro police.
What is Metro Police
The Metro Police is a primary part of the South African police structure. As a law enforcement agency at the local government level in metropolitan areas, such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, and so on, it is mainly in charge of traffic management and local municipal bylaws governance, such as monitoring illegal parking, dealing with minor public disturbances, preventing local crime in urban areas in support of SAPS, etc.
Difference Between SAPS and Metro Police
Although both the South African Police Service (SAPS) and metro police are law enforcement departments, they are different in the following aspects.
| Police | SAPS | Metro Police |
| Jurisdiction | Nationwide | Metropolitan areas |
| Responsibility | Serious criminal investigations (i.e. murder or drug trafficking); Border security; Public order maintenance. | Address nationwide public safety issues. |
| Organizational StructureMetro Police | A national entity under the Department of Police | Part of local municipal governments |
| Training Focus | Focus on crime investigation and perpetrator arrest | Focus on urban/local law enforcement and traffic control |
| Roles in Public Safety | In charge of public safety of local metropolitan areas under administration. | In charge of public safety of local metropolitan areas under administration. |
Metro Police Requirements
To become a Metro police officer, an individual must satisfy the following requirements.
- Age
Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Some might require a maximum age, for example, 35 in Durban. Those beyond the age limit must prove their physical fitness and functional skills to perform the duties of metro police.
- Education
A minimum of Grade 12 education or equivalent (such as a National Diploma, or a degree from a recognized institution) is required.
- Citizenship
Only South African citizens are eligible for metro police application. Applicants must have valid proof of identity and traceable work, study, or residential history.
- Physical and Psychological Fitness
Candidates must be in good physical and medical condition. For example, you must have a high-level of visual and hearing ability. Applicants need to have a comprehensive body check and pass the police fitness test.
- Clean Criminal Record
Candidates must have good standing and outstanding communication skills. A clean criminal record is necessary. All applicants will go through a rigorous background check. Anyone with serious crimes like robbery, theft, murder, drug trafficking, etc. will be disqualified. All selectees will make a commitment to serve the community and ensure public safety.
- Driver’s License
Excellent driving skills and longer driving experience will be given priority. Applicants should have a valid driver’s license and good driving record.
How to Apply for Metro Police
The local government will post job vacancies on its official website. Anyone who wishes to join can file a metro police application during a fixed period. In this section, we will take Durban as an example.
Create an Account
- Visit the e-recruitment registration page and choose to sign up with Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Email.
- Enter full name, citizenship, and identity document number.
- Receive a confirmation email from Ethekwini Careers (donotreply@recruit.co.za) and click on the link attached to verify your email address.
- Go to the “MANAGE PROFILE” section and complete your personal file.
Submit an Application
Applicants can either submit the application in person or online. To apply by paper, download a Metro Police Application Forms 2024, fill it out, and submit it to a nearby Durban metro police station. To apply online, please do as follows.
- Visit the Durban Recruitment Portal and click on “EXTERNAL CANDIDATES”.
- Click on “security and emergency” and then “authorized officer”.
- Fill out the application form and submit it along with the supporting documents, including national ID, driver’s license, and diploma (or equivalent certificate). The documents should be in the form of Microsoft Word or PDF and the file size should not exceed 500 KB.
Go Through Screening and Selection
After the Durban Metro Police Department receives your application, you will be invited to take a series of tests and assessments which include:
- written assessment and interview;
- physical assessment of physical fitness, endurance, and strength;
- continuous psychological assessment of cognitive abilities, personality traits, and behavioral patterns;
- background record check on eligibility, employment history, and criminal history;
- medical evaluation on eyesight, hearing, chronic disease, infectious disease, etc;
- drug test on legal and illegal substances;
- fitness assessments;
Metro Police Traning for Application
Those who have passed the screening and selection must undergo metro police learnership training to be qualified to work as metro police officers. The training will last 18 months, including 12 months for traffic officer qualification and 6 months for police skills program. It is held by the traffic colleges approved by the Minister of Transport. Here are some examples.
| Training Institution | City/Province | Contact |
| Boekenhoutkloof Traffic Training College | Pretoria, Gauteng | (012) 372 8000 |
| Cape Town Metro Police Academy | Cape Town, Western Cape | (021) 447 2366 |
| Durban Metro Police Department Academy | Durban, KZN | (031) 701 0462 |
| Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department Academy | Springs, Gauteng | (011) 812 8700 |
| Gene Louw Traffic Training College | Cape Town, Western Cape- | (021) 983 1501 |
| Johannesburg Metro Police | Johannesburg, Gauteng | (011) 429 5010 |
| KZN Traffic Training College | Pietermaritzburg, KZN | (033) 394 0202 |
| Lengau Traffic Training College | Bloemfontein, Free State | (051) 409 0444 |
| Limpopo Traffic Training College | Polokwane, Limpopo | (015) 967 0467 |
| Mangaung Traffic Training College | Bloemfontein, Free State | (051) 412 8100 |
| Matjhabeng Traffic Training College | Welkom, Free State | (051) 876 2224 |
| Mpumalanga Traffic Training College | Hazyview, Mpumalanga | 013 766 7292 |
| Port Elizabeth Traffic Training College | Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape | (041) 390 4501 |
| Tshwane Metro Police Department Academy | Pretoria, Gauteng | (012) 358 0005 |
Prior to academy training, candidates must pass a physical ability test. Provided you are selected, you will be informed by SMS or phone to report to the identified venue and take a compulsory fitness test. You are expected to achieve the following goals. Please note that all tests must be done in a standard position.
- Push-ups: at least 25 in one minute.
- Sit-ups: at least 30 in one minute.
- 1.5-mile run: finished within fifteen minutes fifty-four (15:54) seconds. It is prohibited to walk or ask for other person’s help during this process.
- 300-meter sprint: finished within sixty-six (:66) seconds. Walking, piggyback running, or any other wrong position will disqualify you.
How Much Does Metro Police Earn in SA
The salary of South African Metro Police officers varies according to rank, experience, position, and where they work. For example, entry-level personnel in basic positions (i.e. drivers and administrative staff) get ZAR 10,000 to ZAR 15,000 per month while senior officers and specialists can earn ZAR 25,000 to ZAR 35,000. The differences aim to attract experienced talents and encourage the staff to keep moving on.
Moreover, metro police officers can also enjoy other benefits besides competitive salary packages, such as health insurance, paid leave, pensions, housing allowances, transportation allowances, career development, extensive training programs, and so forth.
FAQ
Q: When will the 2024 Metro Police application close?
A: The deadline for application is 5:00 p.m. on August 2nd, 2024.
Q: Can I be a Metro police without matric?
A: No, because it is one of the minimum metro police requirements for education, but you can present an equivalent qualification, such as a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or a National Certificate (Vocational) (NCV) at NQF level 4.
Q: Do SAPS trainees get paid?
A: Yes. The salary differs according to different phases. Trainees get R3175,00 per month for the first 10 months at the SAPS Academy and R7 275,00 per month for the next 14 months.
Q: How do I know whether my metro police application was successful?
A: You will receive an email to confirm that your application has been submitted. If you do not receive any notice within 3 months after the recruitment is closed, it means you are not selected.
Q: Can I withdraw my application?
A: Yes. Go to your “PROFILE” > “VIEW APPLICATIONS” on the e-Recruitment portal and click on the “WITHDRAWN” button under the “AVAILBLE ACTIONS”. However, you are not allowed to re-apply for the post afterward, but you can send an email to ERecruitment@durban.gov.za to recover the withdrawn application. Please include your name, ID number, and job reference number in the email.
Q: How much does it cost to apply for metro police?
A: It is free of charge to register with e-Recruitment and apply for a post.
Conclusion
Metro police is an important force in public safety and law enforcement. South African adults who are physically and mentally healthy and educationally qualified can apply to join the metro police as long as there are job vacancies. All applicants must go through a comprehensive background check. Once selected, you will go through a strict physical test and training before being officially on duty. We hope this passage will help you learn thoroughly about metro police requirements and applications.