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 electoral principles, processes and procedures 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119627  Demonstrate knowledge of electoral principles, processes and procedures 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Democracy, Human Rights, Peace and Elections 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
PSETA - Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority 
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 07 - Human and Social Studies Public Policy, Politics and Democratic Citizenship 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  4 
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 for all practitioners involved in elections, for people who work on the periphery of elections or in support functions, and for people wishing to gain a general knowledge on elections and democracy. This unit standard can serve as a building block towards other practitioner standards dealing with election observation and monitoring, election administration and voter education.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of democratic principles and values
  • Demonstrate knowledge of elections processes and procedures 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Communication at NQF level 4
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF level 4 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • This unit standard applies to elections at national, provincial, local or organisational levels that demand formal specified requirements and procedures, including secret ballots and voters' lists or rolls, within the context of established legislation and/or a constitution or documented rules and guidelines of some other form.
  • Electoral processes are defined to include the following:

    > Pre-election Phases - voter registration, voter education process and system (excludes the development of voter education programmes which is dealt with in another unit standard), boundary/ constituency delimitation, political party/ candidate registration and candidate nomination.
    > Election Phase - voting
    > Post- election Phase - counting, reconciliation, results, seat calculation where applicable (i.e. how the votes translate into a position of power), dispute processes and mechanisms (concerning any of the various processes).
  • The "Bill of Rights" refers to the South African Bill of Rights as enshrined within the South African Constitution.
    The "Bill of Rights" forms the basis for current and emerging practice of human rights and democracy in South Africa, and is therefore used in this unit standard to define expectations. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge of democratic principles and values relating to elections. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Descriptions of democratic principles are explained in line with the South African Constitution and relevant legislation and regulations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Principles include universal adult suffrage, multi-party system of democratic government and regularity of elections.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The principles of free and fair elections are related to various election scenarios. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Democratic values are described in terms of different contexts as they relate to public and private structures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Values include tolerance, respect, human dignity, equality, non-discrimination, empathy, inclusivity, adherence to rule of law, international human rights.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The instruments that safeguard political rights are contextualised in terms of their role in establishing democratic election principles. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The instruments may include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international charters related to political rights, the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Participation of voters, parties and/or organisations and candidates are defined in terms of eligibility to participate, their rights and responsibilities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Structures supporting democracy and governance are referred to in terms of their different roles and responsibilities. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The structures may include governmental and statutory structures supporting constitutional democracy and organs of civil society.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate knowledge of elections processes and procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Different electoral systems are defined in terms of their functioning, appropriateness and impact on different contexts. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Electoral systems include proportional representation, semi-proportional and plurality-majority systems.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Electoral processes are defined in terms of operational phases and general procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The implications of relevant legislation, regulations and/or specific requirements governing elections are identified and interpreted in terms of their impact. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Implications may relate to administration, implementation and management of electoral plans.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Potential and actual election-related abuses, misconduct, limitations and deficiencies are identified in relation to their impact on the election and prevention techniques. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Election-related abuses and misconduct can include intimidation, fraud, manipulations of boundary delimitation, disenfranchising voters, limiting access to voters, counting abuses and administrative obstacles.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Assessors for 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 must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures.
  • Moderators must be registered as assessors with the relevant ETQA, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • International instruments of human rights.
  • Elections legislation and/or specified requirements.
  • Principles of free and fair elections.
  • Different electoral processes, alternatives, their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems: this will be demonstrated generally throughout the standard, but particularly when identifying potential problems and solutions. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively: this outcome is not addressed in this unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information: this will be displayed throughout the unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills: communication will be demonstrated when providing explanations of elections practices and processes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically: this outcome is not addressed in this unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of inter-related parts of a system: This will be demonstrated in a limited sense, but mainly through a consideration of the impact that specific problems could have on the electoral process and results. 

    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
    Elective  67460   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 6  NQF Level 06  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. Chartered Institute of Management (Pty) Ltd 
    2. Lead Afrika Consulting (Pty) Ltd 
    3. South Africa School of Diplomacy, Protocol and Public Administration 


    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.