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 an understanding of political economy 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
243850  Demonstrate an understanding of political economy 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Development 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 05 - Education, Training and Development Adult Learning 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 4  NQF Level 04  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 
The person credited with this Unit Standard will be able to understand that political economy explains how power is organised and exercised in society.

The qualifying learner will be capable of:
  • Describing elementary concepts of economics in relation to political economy.
  • Comparing contemporary economic systems.
  • Describing how property ownership influences the formation of social classes.
  • Understanding the political economy of South Africa and the global context. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Learners assessing this Unit Standard will have demonstrated competence in:
  • Communication at NQF Level 3 or equivalent.
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 3 or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe elementary concepts of economics in relation to political economy. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Concepts include but are not limited to supply and demand, profit margin and surplus value, factors of production. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The term economics is defined in relation to the influence on the political arena. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Profit margin is calculated in order to determine surplus value. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The influence of surplus value on workers wages is described with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The evolution of economic systems is described in relation to class formation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Economic systems may include but are not limited to primitive communalism, slave-based economy, feudalism, communism, socialism and capitalism.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Compare contemporary economic systems. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Contemporary primarily refers to capitalism and socialism. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The foundations of political economy are described in terms of the four factors of production. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Foundations refer to production, distribution, exchange and consumption.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The foundations of political economy are compared with regard to how they are organised and operate in contemporary economic systems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Contemporary economic systems are explained in terms of the way they shape the role of the state and social classes and their impact on one another. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The role of trade unions is described in relation to their contribution in bringing about social change. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Different manifestations of the capitalist and socialist systems are identified and explained with examples. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Economies include developmental state, mixed economy, welfare state, socialism, capitalism.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Describe how property ownership influences the formation of social classes. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    The concept of property includes but is not limited to capital, land, machinery, technology. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Different forms of property ownership are described in terms of their distinguishing features. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The different classes in society are identified in terms of their distinguishing features. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The link between owning property and belonging to a specific social class is described with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The role of trade unions in shaping economic debate in relation to property ownership patterns is explained in terms of the effect on social class. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Understand political economy of South Africa and the global context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Unequal economic relations are analysed in terms of their role in creating gender, class and racial inequalities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The impact of globalisation on the South African economy is described in terms of its effect on workers' lives. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Aspects to be covered here include but are not limited to privatisation, outsourcing, casualisation, retrenchments.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Knowledge of basic economic indicators is interpreted in terms of their effect on workers. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Basic indicators are inflation, interest rates, economic growth rate, productivity.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this Unit Standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard or assessing this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Definitions of political economy are described with examples.
  • The link between owning property and belonging to specific social class is described with examples.
  • How capitalism develops/evolves and responds to its own inherent crises.
  • Variants of how capitalism manifests itself today. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems when critiquing contemporary economic systems and their impact on the trade union environment. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities to ensure that information is as up-to-date as possible regarding political economy issues. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information for making comparisons of contemporary economic systems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology to assist with any and all calculations and data required. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems and how the political economy impacts on the trade union environment and vice-versa. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  58337   Further Education and Training Certificate: Trade Union Practice  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  ETDP SETA 


    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. Aldabri 106 Institute for Quality (Pty) Ltd 
    2. B T Group of Companies Pty Ltd 
    3. Breakeven 59(PTY) Ltd 
    4. Dabulamanzi & Njabulo Ndaba Consulting cc 
    5. DITSELA WORKERS EDUCATION INSTITUTION 
    6. ELIJAH BARAYI MEMORIAL TRAINING CENTRE 
    7. Leronsa Trading Enterprise 
    8. Motheo Training Institute Trust 
    9. Sebenzisanane Human Capital 
    10. Southren African ABET and Skills Development Agency (Pty) LTD 
    11. T Mabuya & Associates (Pty) Ltd 
    12. Yellow Media Learning Institute (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.