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 knowledge of how a business works in the Mining and Minerals Sector 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
110121  Demonstrate knowledge of how a business works in the Mining and Minerals Sector 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Mining and Minerals 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Fabrication and Extraction 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 1  NQF Level 01  2 
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 will be useful to people who are engaged in or intending to enter the mining and minerals sector to help them understand the basics of how a business works.

People credited with this unit standard are able to
  • Demonstrate knowledge of business principles
  • Demonstrate knowledge of key factors of business in the mining and minerals sector
  • Demonstrate knowledge of key tools to measure and manage a business
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the business they are, or intend to be involved in 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Communications at ABET level 3 or equivalent
  • Mathematics at ABET level 3 or equivalent 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This unit standard applies to a person involved in or intending to become involved in the mining and minerals sector.

    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge of business principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The factors of production are described and their role in the economy is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The key features of the free enterprise system are described and distinguished from other mainstream economic models. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The elements of business are described in terms of revenues, costs, assets and liabilities and their importance in terms of profit, cash generation and sustainability explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The role of legislation in business is explained in terms of protection of workers, the community, the environment, the economy and freedom to trade. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. The human resource aspects of business are described in terms of key features, roles and importance for sustainability of business. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Human resource aspects must include:
  • The right to associate
  • Relationships in the workplace
  • Collective bargaining
  • Service delivery
  • Performance standards
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate knowledge of key factors of business in the mining and minerals sector. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The principles of the application of legislation in the mining and minerals sector are described in terms of protection of the environment, health and safety, protection of mineral rights, social policy and licensing requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The broad requirements of public reporting for business in the sector are described in terms of disclosure, life of mine, mineral resources, health and safety and the environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The roles of the key stakeholders in the sector are described in terms of interest groups, structures and influence on operating a business. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Key stakeholders must include:
  • Investors
  • Labour
  • The State
  • Employers
  • Trade Unions
  • Employer organisations
     
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate knowledge of key tools to measure and manage a business. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The basic methods of investor measurement of a business are described and their application in the sector is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The basic methods of internal measurement of a business in the sector are described and their application for managing a business is explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The importance of commodity prices is described in terms of implications on profitability and future expectations of the business. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the business they are, or intend to be involved in. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. The operation of the business in which the learner is employed in, or intends to be involved in, is described in terms of the general criteria that applies to the segment of the mining and minerals sector it is engaged in. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The basic criteria for measuring the critical success factors of the business in which the learner is employed in, or intends to be involved in are explained. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. The implication of basic economic change is described in relation to the business the employee is engaged in, or intends to be engaged in. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Economic change must include:
  • World economic improvement or decline
  • South African economic improvement or decline
  • Prices of commodities that relate to the business concerned
  • International and local rates of inflation
  • Wage increases
     
    		•


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

    2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.

    3. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge, candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes to the standards described in the assessment criteria. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate`s performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to identify substandard and hazardous conditions, assess and take appropriate action. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community.

    Note: The ability and willingness of the candidate to accept and interpret work instructions correctly. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage himself / herself and his / her activities responsibly and effectively.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to indicate what methods, tools and personal protective equipment are required, and to communicate to fellow workers his / her intentions and the assistance required. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.

    Note: The ability of the candidate to reconcile the information from visual and physical examinations and constantly evaluate the changing situation. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively, using visual, mathematical and / or language skills in the modes of oral and / or written presentations.

    Note: The appropriate communication with the relevant personnel with regard to the reporting of hazards and substandard conditions will indicate his / her proficiency in effective communication. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, thus showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.

    Note: The use of science and technology is not relevant for this unit standard. 

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

    Note: The ability of the candidate to identify and refer anomalous behaviour to a specialist confirms his / her understanding of the fact that a specific observation, inference, action or decision may have a devastating effect. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent. 
    		•

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terminology

    Specified requirements include legal and site-specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:

    Legal
  • Relevant Acts, e.g. Mine Health & Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29/1996), and Minerals Act and Regulations, 1991 (Act No. 50/1991)
  • Mandatory Codes of Practice
  • SABS and other relevant standards
  • Chief Inspector of Mines` Directives

    Site-Specific
  • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management Programme
  • Managerial Instructions
  • Mine Standard Procedures
  • List of Recorded OH&S Risks
  • Working Guides
  • Equipment and Materials Specifications 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  58267   General Education and Training Certificate: Mining and Minerals Processes  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MQA 


    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.
     
    1. ADCORP TECHNICAL TRAINING (PTY) LTD 
    2. ALLOYS HEAD OFFICE 
    3. ASSMANG (PTY) LTD 
    4. ASSMANG BEESHOEK MINE 
    5. BAFOKENG RASIMONE MANAGEMENT SERVICES PTY LTD 
    6. BANA BA THARI MINING TRANING AND DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY 
    7. BARBERTON MINES (PTY) LTD 
    8. ERGO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY NPC 
    9. EXXARO COAL (PTY) LTD 
    10. FINSCH DIAMOND MINE(PTY) LTD 
    11. FOSKOR (PTY) LTD 
    12. GLENCORE OPERATIONS SOUTH AFRICA PTY LTD 
    13. HARMONY GOLD MINING CO LTD 
    14. IMPALA PLATINUM SERVICES LTD 
    15. KUMBA IRON ORE (SISHEN) 
    16. Kumba Sishen HRD Centre 
    17. LYNAZY RESOURCES 
    18. MARULA PLATINUM PTY LTD 
    19. MATHOME TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT (PTY) LTD 
    20. MODIKWA MINING PERSONNEL SERVICES PTY L TD 
    21. MURRAY & ROBERTS CEMENTATION (PTY)LTD 
    22. NORTHAM PLATINUM LTD 
    23. PALABORA COPPER (PTY) LTD 
    24. PPC Ltd 
    25. PROGRESSIVE TRAINING DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECTS (PTY) LTD 
    26. RICHARDS BAY MINING PTY LTD 
    27. SIBANYE GOLD ACADEMY PROPRIETARY LIMITED 
    28. SIBANYE RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES PTY LTD 
    29. THUNGELA OPERATIONS (PTY) LTD 
    30. TWO RIVERS PLATINUM (PTY) LTD 


    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.