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

Demonstrate understanding of the theoretical basis of social justice 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116482  Demonstrate understanding of the theoretical basis of social justice 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Ethical Foundations of Society World of Ideas 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 07 - Human and Social Studies Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  6 
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
2026-06-30   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 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 designed to assist learners to explore the theoretical basis underpinning social justice; and to guide people to determine for themselves which actions or forms of behaviour are within the limits of their authority, confidence and trust.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Describe and explain social justice in relation of key theories
  • Distinguish between moral and political rights with respect to social justice in South Africa
  • Identify strategies for promoting or opposing social justice in society 
    		•

    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 NQF Level 4 or equivalent competence.
  • It is assumed that learners have competence equivalent to that described in the unit standard "Describe ethical procedures and practices for social justice". 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The typical scope of this Unit Standard is:

    1. Principles in their code of ethics.
    2. Ethical framework provided by their workplace/sector.
    3. Established procedures for inspiring and supporting learners to adhere to the code of conduct for the workplace. At this level the learners should also be able to describe, explain and justify policies and practices that facilitate the implementation of the accepted ethical code in various situations within the context of the workplace.
    4. Ethical responsibilities honour the framework for their established and implemented ethical code, as described in this unit standard. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe and explain social justice in relation to key theories. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Various approaches to the idea of social justice are identified and contrasted in terms of their key components, internal logic, and strengths and weaknesses. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Various approaches to the idea of social justice are identified and contrasted in terms of their key components, internal logic, and strengths and weaknesses.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Social justice is described and explained in relation to key theories of social development and their underpinning world views and ethical concepts. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Theoretical approaches include: Marxist, libertarian, utilitarian, contractualism, procedural, pre-suppositions, religious theory (different hermeneutical models of social justice/participation vs domination, forming and informing).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The problem of ideology and stance is explained with reference to the resulting arguments for, and interpretation of, social justice. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Stance includes: egalitarian stance - arguments for creating a more equal distribution; meritocracy - distribution according to some indicator of merit (can justify some unequal distributions).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The impact of stance on the analysis is identified in terms of its perspectives and resulting conclusions. Differences in interpretation for different stances are identified and contrasted in terms of the origins, perspectives and consequences of each. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The impact of globalisation is identified and explained in terms of the influence of international issues and approaches to social justice on local issues and practices. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    International issues include: colonialism (retributive justice); present exploitation of the developing world by the developed world; way in which internaqtional issues define and/or impede social justice, international justice, poverty.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Distinguish between moral and political rights with respect to social justice in South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Positive and political rights are differentiated in terms of delivery challenges and pressures on the State, and prevailing world views and ethical concepts within South Africa. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Positive rights include: rights to housing, health, education, right to development negative rights include: political rights, right to non-interference.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Rights and implicit and explicit obligations attached to those rights are identified and described in terms of key theories of social development and human rights, and their underpinning world views and ethical concepts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The provisions and intentions of the legal framework created in South Africa to address social justice are identified and evaluated in terms of key theories of social development and human rights. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Provisions include: legislation dealing with illegal evictions, extension of tenure, security of tenure.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Identify strategies for promoting or negating social justice in society. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Strategies derived from: theories about social development and human rights. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Social mechanisms and pressures through which social justice occurs are identified, described and evaluated in terms of key theories about social development and human rights. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Mechanisms and pressures include: minimum wage, outsourcing, mechanisation, wage gaps - entry levels vs highest wages, look at social justice best practice. Institutional incapacity to deliver.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Responses to situations of social injustice are identified, examined and evaluated in terms of key theories about social development and human rights. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Responses include: social security, medical aids and access to health care, care for the aged, provisions for vulnerable communities, safety measures in the workplace (OHS Act).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The importance of information sharing, leadership and advocacy in promoting social justice is described and evaluated in terms of key theories about social development and human rights. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Examples include: practical illustrations affecting social justice such as the UN Development Report 2000, describing ways of using Human Rights as a mechanism for social justice.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Social justice policy, identified and described in terms of allocations and provisions at local and national levels are evaluated in terms of key theories about social development and human rights. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Allocations and provisions include: provision for the creation and distribution redistribution of wealth; social justice in relation to marginalised groups in society (immigrants, refugees) and access to justice for these groups; related issues of poverty and crime; issues of corruption in the public service which provides and administers the systems for social justice.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Corporate social responsibility and investment is evaluated in terms of notions of good corporate citizenship. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Different ethical principles underpinning social justice that can be applied in apparently similar contexts, but where obligations conflicted and ethical uncertainties are experienced, are described in terms of the underlying causes of the conflict, and the different theories about social development and human rights from which they are derived. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Assessment of this Unit Standard should be contextual, practical and be conducted in the workplace as far as possible.
  • Assessors must be registered as assessors with the appropriate ETQA.
  • Moderators must be registered as assessors with the appropriate ETQA, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the appropriate ETQA.
  • The mechanisms and requirements for moderation should be applied as per the SAQA criteria.
  • Assessment should include both formative and summative assessment.
  • Training providers must be accredited by the appropriate ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the appropriate ETQA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Solve problems identifying causes of actions that reflect social injustices and irregularities with regards to the practice of social justice. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, organise and evaluate information by identifying and analysing the consequences of irregularities related to procedures for social justice. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively when planning procedures and practice for social justice; and use effective reading and writing skills in reviewing policies and producing procedures. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of related systems, and the importance of social justice for the effective operation of communities and societies. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Show awareness of the importance of effective learning strategies in promoting social justice, and developing new concepts of responsible citizenship. 

    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 
    The title of this unit standard has been changed from 'Explore the theoretical basis of social justice' to 'Demonstrate understanding of the theoretical basis of social justice'. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  23095   Higher Education and Training Certificate: Development Practice  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  ETDP SETA 
    Elective  80946   National Certificate: Community Development  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  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. B T Group of Companies Pty Ltd 
    2. Dabulamanzi & Njabulo Ndaba Consulting cc 
    3. Isibani Skills Academy 
    4. Kenako Investments 
    5. Marematlou Training Institute 
    6. MENTORNET (PTY) LTD 
    7. Ntevho-Ketso Training and Recruitement Consultancy cc 
    8. NTI College 
    9. PMA Holding (Pty) Ltd 
    10. Professional Development and Training Institute (Pty) Ltd 
    11. Retshetse Training Project 
    12. Sigodi Development Services and Associates (SDS) cc 
    13. Southern African Youth Movement 
    14. Spotru Training Centre 
    15. SPS Consulting (Pty) Ltd 
    16. Thabelanang t/a Thabelanang Trading Enterprise 
    17. The Fundamentals Training Centre 
    18. THE GMC GROUP PTY LTD 
    19. Thembekile training consulting 
    20. Thuto-Botshabelo Training and Projects (Pty) Ltd 
    21. TMG Quality Services 
    22. Ulwazi Training & Development 
    23. Wildfire Development Training Agency 


    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.