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: 

Effecting a lawful citizen's arrest 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
11502  Effecting a lawful citizen's arrest 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Security 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  10 
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 is to enable relevant personnel to competently effecting a lawful citizens arrest.

Benefit for society of this unit standard is that the person who completes this will contribute to safety in society.

A person credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation required for effecting a lawful citizens arrest.
  • Prepare for apprehension
  • Perform a citizens arrest
  • Detain a suspect and hand him/her over to the authorities 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The following knowledge, skills attitude and/or equivalent:
  • A knowledge, comprehension and application of language and mathematical skills at NQF level 02. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This unit standard applies to persons competently undertaking a lawful citizens arrest. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Apply knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Apply knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation required for effecting a lawful citizens arrest. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Behaviour of suspect in your presence clearly identified as constituting an offence which allows for a citizen's arrest according to relevant legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. The application of knowledge and understanding of circumstances are identified which clearly establish that an offence has been committed according to relevant legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Proof of/or suspicion of offence having been committed established according to relevant legislation to justify a citizen's arrest. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. The application of knowledge and the need established for a citizens arrest in accordance with relevant legislation and operation procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Prepare for apprehension of suspect. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Courses of action in effecting the citizens arrest identified according to relevant legal requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Relevant personnel notified of imminent citizens arrest if appropriate and back up called for as required. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Safety of self, suspect and the general public is considered. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Optimum time, opportunity and location selected to affect the citizen's arrest in order to ensure safety and to comply with workplace procedures, if appropriate. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Perform a citizen's arrest. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Requirement to restrain or secure suspect established and action taken according to relevant legal requirements and standard operating procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Legal rights of person being citizens arrested observed strictly at all times. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Suspect approached; identity and authority of citizens arresting officer communicated to suspect. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Reasons for citizen's arrest conveyed to suspect in a clear and concise manner where possible. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Suspect and/or property searched to obtain evidence to support citizens arrest if necessary, where possible, and within legal and constitutional limitations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    6. Suspect and/or property searched to obtain articles that may be used to harm self or others within legal and constitutional limitations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    7. Understand and apply the knowledge of assisting a police official to effect a lawful arrest. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
    8. Understand and apply the knowledge of breaking open premises in order to effect an citizens arrest. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Detain a suspect and hand him/her over to the authorities. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Apprehension procedures must include:
  • Those detailed in the workplace procedures.

    Selection based on must include:
    Criminal procedure Act 51 of 1977
    Constitution
    SIRA Act
    Trespass Act 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    1. Citizens arrested person is detained according to workplace procedures and relevant legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    2. Police services is immediately notified and supplied with all relevant details and evidence associated with citizens arrest when handing suspect over into their custody. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    3. Client and/or responsible persons is informed of citizens arrest according to workplace procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    4. Details of the citizen's arrest are accurately recorded according to workplace procedures and legal requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    5. Legal grounds and process is clearly established in report to police, client and employer. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    1. Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the POSLEC SETA ETQA/and any other body with whom a MOU was entered into.
    2. Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the POSLEC SETA ETQA/and any other body with whom a MOU was entered into by SAQA.
    3. Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the POSLEC ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the POSLEC SETA ETQA/ and any other body with whom a MOU was entered into. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Refer to the Specific Outcomes and the Assessment Criteria contained in this unit standard and specifically to:
  • An understanding of the relevant legislation, covering the legal limitations of a security officer in effecting a citizens arrest
  • An understanding of lawful and effective methods of physical restraint
  • An understanding of effective and lawful methods of detention
  • An understanding of workplace procedures regarding observation and apprehension
  • An ability to distinguish the difference between normal and deviant behaviour 
    		•


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems related to the identification of courses of action in effecting the citizen's arrest according to relevant legal requirements. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, and organisation when effecting a citizen's arrest. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise oneself and one's activities so that the knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation required for lawful citizen's arrest is applied. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information related to the relevant legislation so that these are accurately interpreted into application performance standards. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of related systems in that legislative requirements are interrelated with the overall effecting of a citizen's arrest. 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Supplementary Information:

    Specified Requirements

    Specified requirements include legal and legislative specific requirements and are:

    Legal
  • Applicable sections of the Firearms Control Act 60/2000.
  • Applicable section of the Criminal Procedures Act 51 of 1977.
  • Applicable section of the Regulation of Gatherings Act, 1993.
  • Applicable sections of the Dangerous Weapons Act.
  • Private defence
  • Moral & humanitarian considerations (proportionality)
  • Continuum of force
  • Vicarious liability
  • Civil liability

    Context Specific
  • Training provider user manuals
  • Specifications, company operational agreements and policies and procedures

    Resources required for Assessment
  • Safety equipment and protective uniform/clothes
  • Communications equipment.
  • Necessary administrative and stationary issue.
  • Relevant equipment/resources, i.e. handcuffs, baton, firearm, dogs, etc.
  • Criterion referenced assessment instructions/tools.
  • A suitable venue: either in the workplace or classroom. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  22490   National Certificate: General Security Practices  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2007-11-28  Was SAS SETA until Last Date for Achievement 
    Elective  83946   National Certificate: Management  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-07-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    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. ADT SECURITY SERVICES PTY LTD 
    2. Afri Guard(pty)ltd 
    3. AIM TRAINING ACADEMY 
    4. BLACKEN SECURITY SERVICES 
    5. BTC TRAINING AFRICA PTY LTD 
    6. Fidelity Security Services 
    7. Hadassah Security Consultants Cc 
    8. HJN TRAINING CC 
    9. IMVULA SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY 
    10. Inkwe Sekuriteit Bk 
    11. INSIMBI SECURITY TRAINING CENTRE 
    12. ISASA SECURITY TRAINING CC 
    13. ITO FOCUS PHOLE 
    14. MEC TRAINING (PTY) LTD 
    15. NORTHERN PROVINCE TRAINING ACADEMY 
    16. NU LAW FIREARMS COMPLIANCE 
    17. RAMAZWI SECURITY SERVICES CC 
    18. SILVER SOLUTIONS SECURITY 1713 CC 
    19. SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK 
    20. Staff Management Services 
    21. TINTSWALO SECURITY SERVICES 
    22. TZANEEN TRAINING CENTRE LIMPOPO 
    23. UBUNTU 
    24. ZEVOLI 9 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.