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 QUALIFICATION:

Higher Certificate in Local Governance

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
117727	Higher Certificate in Local Governance
ORIGINATOR
IQ Academy
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Public Administration
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Not Applicable	NQF Level 05	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2020-09-29	2027-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30		2031-06-30

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 qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The Higher Certificate in Local Governance aims to equip learners with both theoretical pieces of knowledge, applied competence and professional skills in the field of study to meaningfully:

Act as representatives of the community they serve.

Fulfil political and administrative roles in a local government council and other division.

The qualification will enhance the skills needed for reasoning, data mining and processing, interpretation, demonstrating leadership, self-reflection, adaptability and developing competence and integrity. It will also provide the basis for synthesising information autonomously to create analytically relevant capabilities that will benefit administrators; councillors elected to local government; officials or other employees/persons involved in local government affairs who aim to gain an entry-level managerial position in the field of Local Governance.

Rationale:
The rationale for the qualification is to give learners who are unable to attend contact sessions an opportunity to increase their skills levels in the workplace. The content scope provides a learning opportunity for local governance and management related institutions to develop knowledge and skills through an industry-relevant qualification.

The qualification will prepare learners as well as employees (i.e. those learners already employed in public sector institutions), through the discipline-specific nature of the qualification to meet the national, provincial, local and continental labour market, knowledge and other socio-cultural needs in this scarce-skill governmental environment.

Based on the popularity and the demands to skill individuals in the local government sector in terms of a professional educational pathway, this qualification is in line with the overall learning pathways that the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the National School of Government (NSG) is seeking to create for its learners, both employed and unemployed. The learning pathway indicates a variety of learning opportunities for any learner embarking on a qualification within the local government context and this particular qualification initiates an opportunity for councillors as well as officials in an administrative capacity to be more intricately exposed to the local government workings. Learners can pursue a learning pathway in local government operational functional areas. The learning pathways provide varied opportunities for a learner wishing to embark on a career within local government and are also complementary to other qualifications within the public sector.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be applied following the institution's RPL Policy. Learners who do not satisfy the formal admission requirements, but who can demonstrate comparable previous learning, may be granted admission upon application to the Institution. RPL assessments and the process for administering such are outlined in the Institution's policies dealing with Learner Admissions, Assessment and RPL. Learners with relevant experience in a local government environment who qualify for a RPL will be considered on merit for admission in terms of the RPL policy.

The RPL Policy and guidelines maps the process for an RPL learner. The assessor or Academic Head must be satisfied that the learner is sufficiently experienced to qualify for RPL assessment. The RPL process is monitored and governed by the RPL Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Academic Board. This Committee is mandated to ensure that there are effective mechanisms and procedures in place to deal with RPL fairly and effectively and for assessing current competence.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

National Senior Certificate (NSC), NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
Or

Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits:

Academic Literacy, 10 Credits.

Local Governance in Context, 20 Credits.

Municipal Service Delivery, 15 Credits.

Local Democracy and Urban Planning, 15 Credits.

Good Corporate and Financial Governance, 15 Credits.

Trends in Urban Governance, 15 Credits.

Local Government Policy Making and Analysis, 15 Credits.

Leadership and Local Governance, 15 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skills to function optimally at the entry-level of the higher education learning context.
2. Explain the principles of local governance with specific reference to the developmental mandate, statutory obligations, structures, and systems of municipalities.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and insight of objectives, approaches, types of stakeholders, and mechanisms to continuously improve service delivery within a local government context.
4. Develop an integrated knowledge of community participation mechanisms and priorities in urban planning.
5. Interpret the principles of strategic budgeting and financial corporate governance within a local government context.
6. Critically evaluate the potential consequences and impact of various key trends in urban governance.
7. Apply theories and techniques to participate in local government policy making and analysis.
8. Demonstrate an integrated knowledge of local government leadership issues and good governance within the context of African and Ubuntu- leadership.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Demonstrate an understanding of learning in higher education in the South African context.

Participate effectively in an online learning environment.

Apply various strategies and techniques for studying.

Demonstrate the principles of logic and critical thinking in problem-solving.

Apply reading skills in an academic context to support learning.

Acquire writing skills for an academic context.

Understand good referencing practices.

Develop effective assessment and examination skills.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Demonstrate an understanding of the statutory, regulatory and policy framework that informs local government in South Africa.

Discuss the interaction between national, provincial and local government in general and co-operative governance.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Discuss the service delivery objectives, approaches, types of stakeholders involved, and mechanisms for effective service delivery in a local government sector environment.

Demonstrate knowledge of the statutory framework, ethics and the accountability mechanisms for improved service delivery.

Design a service delivery programme for a project.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Demonstrate knowledge of local government development projects processes and the Integrated Development (IDP) phases.

Identify the reasons for political, administrative and managerial roles when implementing local government development programmes.

Identify the procedures for effectively chairing relevant councils, committees, sub-committees and working groups to achieve objectives of developmental local government programmes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Explain the principles of good corporate governance and implementing sound financial policies for the financial administration of a municipality.

Demonstrate the impact of quarterly reports on the monitoring of budgetary processes.

Explain auditing, accounting functions and the supply chain procedures for municipalities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Discuss the various key trends in urban governance.

Demonstrate the effect of strategies for sustainable urban development on environment concerns.

Identify the global, national and regional urban challenges.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Explain where the various role players and interest groups fit in to the local government policy agenda-setting process.

Evaluate a local government policy by using a variety of implementation strategies for key issues.

Design an assessment tool for the process of local government policy evaluation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

Explain where the various role players and interest groups fit in to the local government policy agenda-setting process.

Evaluate a local government policy by using a variety of implementation strategies for key issues.

Design an assessment tool for the process of local government policy evaluation.

Integrated Assessment:
The qualification contains multiple opportunities for continuous assessment. Assessment of competence is administered through a combination of formative and summative assessment methodologies, tools and procedures. Appropriate and timeous feedback on assessments effectively promotes learner learning, effective decision-making and forms the basis toward achieving learning outcomes.

When required and dependent on the outcomes associated with a particular module(s), learners are expected to develop a comprehensive portfolio which contains sufficient evidence of integrated learning which has taken place in a relevant module e.g. skills, knowledge and attitudes acquired throughout the learning process that demonstrates applied competence.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Country: Ghana
Institution: Institute of Local Government Studies, Accra
Qualification: Certificate in Local Government Administration (CEP)
Synopsis: The content of the CEP entails basic management functions, public-private partnerships, tools for effective corporate leadership, Human Resource (HR) management, Local Economic Development (LED) and client services management. Similar to this qualification in the context of 3 modules and other integrated aspects in 2 other modules.

Country: Zambia
Institution: Chalimbana Training Institute (linked with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing)
Qualification: Diploma in Rural and Urban Management
Synopsis: The overall goal is to train a cadre of officers who are involved or those who have the desire to be involved in rural and urban management activities so that they can be able to facilitate sustainable development in local authorities. The duration is not specified on the web. The focus has been on the social development of the urban poor. It seems as if this was in realisation of the rising levels of poverty and economic reform policies that caused rising levels of unemployment and high cost of living. It has little to do with participative democracy and more with a 'Food for Asset', qualification aimed at turning poor communities of Zambia into viable producers of food for themselves and for sharing with the community.

Thus, Zambian councillor activities and related qualifications centre more on poverty alleviation qualifications and there seems to be a lack of modules about planning, municipal processes and structures compared to the South African scenario.

Country: Tanzania
Institution: Local Government Training Institute
Qualification: Ordinary Diploma in Local Government Administration
Synopsis: Target group middle level officials who work or intend to work in Local Government Authorities. The Tanzanian qualification covers managing human and other resources in local governments, administration of day to day activities and policy advice to officials. Similarities with this qualification include the HR and policy outcomes.

Tanzania has local structures starting from: Sub-Village Assembly, Village Government, Village Assembly, Ward Development Committee, District Council, and Regional Secretariat. At present Tanzania is trying to come to terms with failures in its planning strategies and focuses on short qualifications for councillors and ward committees.

Country: Ireland
Institution: The Institute of Public Administration, Dublin
Qualification: Certificate in Local Government Studies
Synopsis: Covers rationale, history and development of Irish local government system, environmental protection, local elections and proportional representation, the role of managers and elected members, council meetings, housing, HR, planning and development and local government and social exclusion. Similarities of integrated aspects of the above qualification occurs in different modules of this qualification.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Higher Certificate in Human Resource Management, NQF Level 5.

Higher Certificate in Local Government Management, NQF Level 5.

Higher Certificate in Local Government and Development Management, NQF Level 5.

Higher Certificate in Municipal Management and Governance, NQF Level 5.

Higher Certificate in Public Administration, NQF Level 5.

Higher Certificate in Public Administration and Management, NQF Level 5.

Vertical Articulation:

Advanced Certificate in Municipal Governance, NQF Level 6.

Advanced Certificate in Local Governance and Management, NQF Level 6.

Diploma in Public Administration and Management, NQF Level 6.

Diploma in Local Government Management, NQF Level 6.

Diploma in Public Management, NQF Level 6.

Diploma in Public Administration, NQF Level 6.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

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.

1.	IQ Academy