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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Diploma: Criminal Law and Justice 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
86192  Diploma: Criminal Law and Justice 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Diploma (Min 240)  Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  240  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 091/21  2021-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 Diploma is designed to provide a basic programme of integrated teaching and learning relevant to the needs of a certain category of Paralegal practitioners, viz that of Public defenders assisting in Criminal processes.

To provide South Africa with significant numbers of graduates in Criminal Law and Justice in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity is widened.

Rationale:

The Diploma aims to provide qualifiers with specific skills and applied competence in Criminal Law and Justice that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Good oral and written communication skills.
  • Reading Skills.
  • Presentation skills.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:

    Access to the programme can also be provided in terms of the university's Recognition of Prior Learning policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. In the Recognition of Prior Learning process students have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course to support the student's admission.

    Access to the Qualification:

    The student should have a qualification at NQF Level 4 of the NQF, (Grade 12). A person, who has any other qualification, which is deemed to be on the same level may also be admitted to the programme by Senate. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Diploma: Criminal Law and Justice, 120 Credits at NQF Level 5 and 120 Credits at NQF Level 6, 240 Credits.

    Learning Components:

    First Year (NQF Level 5):
  • Introduction to Legal Studies 111.
  • Introduction to Legal Studies 121.
  • Law of Persons 111.
  • Legal Research and Writing 111.
  • Family Law 121.
  • Legal Research and Writing 121.
  • Customary Law 121.
  • EED (Law) 101.
  • Paralegal Studies 111.
  • Paralegal Studies 121.

    Second Year (NQF Level 6):
  • Introduction to Criminal Law 202 or Criminal Law 202.
  • Introduction to Law of Criminal Procedure 202 or Criminal Procedure 202.
  • Introduction to Law of Civil Procedure and Law of Evidence 211.
  • Critical Legal Analysis 201.
  • Welfare Law 123.
  • Legal Interpretation 221.
  • Criminal Practice 211.
  • Criminal Practice 221. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    By the end of the programme, qualifying learners will Understand the basic requirements of the most important criminal statutes:
  • The Criminal Law Act.
  • The Criminal Procedure Act.
  • The Civil Procedure Act.
  • The Law of Evidence.
  • The South African Constitution and the Criminal Justice Act.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:
  • Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions, using critical thinking, have been made.
  • Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, or organisation.
  • Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively.
  • Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
  • Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical, and/or language skills in the modes of written and/or oral presentation. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Assessment takes place according to strict assessment criteria as outlined in the prescribed module descriptor. Lecturers set assignments, class tests and the final assessment papers in terms of module outcomes viz. Adequate level of relevant text comprehension to be demonstrated, adequate range of relevant sources to have been accessed and relevant problems to have been grasped, and appropriate theoretical and practical assignments and case studies as well as solutions to problems to have been presented.

    This ensures that assessments maintain a certain standard in accordance with the standards as set out in the syllabus. An external moderator moderates assessment papers set. The same principle applies to the final marking of the assessments. This ensures that skills and concepts are mastered, thereby maintaining a standard of assessment relevant to this offering.

    Integrated Assessment:

    A variety of assessment procedures, including:
  • Assignments.
  • MCQ tests.
  • Continuous evaluation in terms of case law.
  • Formal Examinations. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification responds to the specific and local needs. There is no direct comparability with qualifications in other countries. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This programme articulates well with the LLB programmes. Upon completion, a student may within the rules that regulates the programme be admitted and may apply for exemption of credits towards this degree. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The programme will be moderated via a system of external moderation. The minimum qualifications for assessor will be a Masters plus 3-5 years experience in higher education and approved by the Senate of the university. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    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. University of the Western Cape 


    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.