SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate an understanding of Victim Empowerment in the Criminal Justice process 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
117888  Demonstrate an understanding of Victim Empowerment in the Criminal Justice process 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Victim Empowerment 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 07 - Human and Social Studies People/Human-Centred Development 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard focuses on an understanding of the structure and functioning of the Criminal Justice System in South Africa. The purpose of this Unit Standard is to enable the learner to acquire knowledge and skills required to access the Criminal Justice System.

A learner accredited with this unit standard will be capable of:
  • Locating victim's rights and responsibilities within the context of human rights, the South African Constitution and the South African Victims' Charter.
  • Explaining the structure and function of the Criminal Justice System.
  • Identifying the relevant legislation pertaining to specific categories of victims.
  • Explaining the role and function of the courts in the Criminal Justice process. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that a learner will be competent in:
  • Communication at NQF level 1 or equivalent
  • Mathematical literacy at NQF level 1 or equivalent 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain victims' rights and responsibilities in relation to Human Rights, the South African Constitution and the South African Victims' Charter. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Human Rights and responsibilities are explained in accordance with the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Victims' rights are explained in relation to the protection of human rights as outlined in the South African Victims' Charter. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The responsibilities of Criminal Justice personnel in upholding victims' rights in relation to relevant policy and legislation are explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A Complaint mechanism, if victims' rights are not upheld, is described as outlined in the South African Victims' Charter. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The ways to overcome obstacles in accessing the Criminal Justice System for vulnerable groups are described with examples. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Explain the structure and function of the Criminal Justice System. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The structure of the Criminal Justice system and the roles and responsibilities of key personnel is explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The purpose and relationship between each component in the Criminal Justice system are explained according to the South African Victims' Charter. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The context in which victims may interact with the Criminal Justice system is explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The terminology used by the Criminal Justice System is explained with examples. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Terminology includes, but is not limited to: the state, defense, presiding official, witnesses, court support workers, interpreters, probation officers, etc.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Identify the relevant policies and legislation relating to specific categories of victims. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The relevant legislation pertaining to specific categories of victims is identified with examples. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Legislation, includes but is not limited to: South African Constitution, Criminal Procedures Act, Domestic Violence Act, Child Care Act, etc.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The procedures and processes to be followed by victims in accessing the Criminal Justice System are identified and explained in accordance with relevant policies and legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The options and limitations available to victims in accessing the Criminal Justice System are explained in line with relevant legislation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Identify support services for victims in the Criminal Justice System. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Support services required by the victim are identified and described based on identified victims' needs and the Integrated National Victim Empowerment Policy and South African Institute for Traumatic Stress. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The value in supporting witnesses through the criminal justice system is explained in relation to specific cases. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Methods of accessing support services in the Criminal Justice System are explained according to specific needs of victims. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The role of witnesses in the Criminal Justice System is explained in relation to the South African Criminal Procedure Act and South African Victims' Charter. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard and the related Exit Level Outcomes of the Qualification must be accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • External Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA at its discretion.
  • The accredited Training Provider will oversee internal moderation of assessment.
  • Internal and external moderation should encompass achievement of competence described in this Unit Standard as well as the integrated competence described in the Exit Level Outcome of the Qualification. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The knowledge component of this Unit Standard is derived from the relevant sections of the following:
  • Criminal Procedure Act 51/1977 (and related Bills)
  • South African Victims' Charter
  • South African Constitution and Bill of Rights
  • Integrated National Victim Empowerment Policy
  • Domestic Violence Act
  • Child Care Act 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation and community to access the Criminal Justice System. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and evaluate information about victims to ensure that the correct procedures are followed in accessing the Criminal Justice System. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Use oral and written forms of Communication effectively to persuade all role-players to collaborate in seeking redress for victims. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts in Victim Empowerment do not exist in isolation and requires co-ordination. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
  • Assessors must be registered as assessors with a relevant ETQA or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessors must be in possession of a Qualification in Victim Empowerment or a related sub-field of Human and Social Studies at a minimum of NQF level 3. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  49279   National Certificate: Victim Empowerment and Support  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  HW SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.