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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate in Forensic Examination 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
97072  Higher Certificate in Forensic Examination 
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
Higher Certificate  Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security  Justice in Society 
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
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Certificate is designed to provide a basic programme of integrated teaching and learning relevant to the needs of those involved in forensic examinations, viz. police officers, internal auditors and risk managers.

Rationale:
To provide qualifiers with specific skills and applied competences in forensic examinations that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society's determination to fight crime. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
  • Access may be gained to the qualification through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
  • In the Recognition of Prior Learning process students have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course to support the student's admission. The Professional Development Center (PDC) will focus on written submission explaining the reasons for the candidates' interest in Economic Development as an adjunct to their existing professional competencies and indicating the nature of a possible research project.

    Learning assumed to be in place:
  • Good oral and written communication skills.
  • Reading Skills.
  • Presentation skills supported by three years' relevant work experience.

    Entry Requirements:
  • National Senior Certificate, Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies plus three years' relevant work experience.
  • National Certificate (Vocational), Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies plus three years' relevant work experience.
  • Senior Certificate, Level 4 with matriculation exemption plus three years' relevant work experience.
  • Any NQF Level 4 qualification plus three years' relevant work experience that is approved by the Senate for admission. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    Level 5, 120 Credits.

    Learning components:
  • Introduction to Law and Criminal Law.
  • Administrative law.
  • Labour Law.
  • Law of Evidence.
  • Investigation of Crime.
  • Internal Auditing. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    By the end of the programme, qualifying learners will be able to:
  • Analyse the importance and role of forensic investigations.
  • Apply evaluative thought processes within the various public acts.
  • Comply within current legal and criminal justice systems.
  • Apply business practices and legal requirements within the field of forensics. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • The importance and role of forensic investigations is analysed and understood.
  • The various public acts are evaluated in terms of potential for fraud.
  • Current legal and criminal justice systems are complied with.
  • Business practices and legal requirements are applied within the field of forensics.

    Integrated Assessment:
    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:
    Variety of assessment procedures, including:
  • Assignments.
  • Case studies.
  • Tests.
  • Continuous evaluation.
  • Formal examinations. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Chile has the most comparable infrastructure and socio-economic development levels to that of South Africa. It is thus an excellent benchmark for this qualification in terms of the development of specialised services and the training of specialised forensic investigators. The training programmes in Chile compare well with the qualification, and both address formative aspects, developmental aspects, as well as specialised courses (i.e. the electives of the qualification) for specialised environments. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • National Certificate: Forensic Science, Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Diploma in Criminal Law and Justice, Level 6.
  • Bachelor in Laws and Legislation (LLB), Level 8. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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.