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:

Perform facial reconstructions

SAQA US ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE
243250	Perform facial reconstructions
ORIGINATOR
SGB Forensic Science
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 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	15
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 will enable learners to have an understanding how facial reconstructions assist in identifying the human skulls of individuals who are unidentifiable. Learners will be able to perform facial reconstructions for persons who have died in mass disasters, wars, or due to homicides, suicides, or accidents. This unit standard will also enable them to identify exhumed skeletonised remains of individuals and the remains of individuals found in mass graves by performing facial reconstruction. Learners will be able to demonstrate 3-D facial reconstruction techniques.

Persons credited with this unit standard will be able to:

Reconstruct the skull.

Compare images of an individual with their skeletal remains.

Demonstrate an understanding of the role of forensic art within forensic examinations.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

The unit standards:

Apply knowledge of anatomy, patho-physiology and trauma pathology at NQF Level 5.

Support the identification process of human remains at NQF Level 5.

Assist with post mortem examination procedures at NQF Level 5.

Perform imaging techniques at NQF Level 5.

UNIT STANDARD RANGE

N/A

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria:

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1

Reconstruct the skull.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

The skeletal bones are prepared for restoration.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Skeletal bones include: skull, vertebral column, rib cage, pelvis, upper and lower limbs and hyoid.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The muscles are sculptured in order to reconstruct the face on the scull.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

The muscles also include the glands and cartilage and the " fleshing out" of the skull.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

The soft-tissue is reconstructed using tissue depth methods.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4

The face of the scull is reconstructed using the combination method.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

The reconstruction includes, but is not limited to:

Using the Frankfort Horizontal Plane.

Using published tables and landmarks for the Location of Tissue Depth Markers.

Accurate cutting and placement of the tissue depth markers.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5

The face of the scull is reconstructed using the two-dimensional method.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2

Compare images of an individual with their skeletal remains.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

A superimposition video tape is developed in order to provide a face for analysis.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Superimposition of the video tape includes the camera placement; skull preparatory steps; adjustments for scale and orientation; blending and sweeping techniques.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

The superimposition is analysed in order for comparison with the photograph of the individual.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3

Mummified fingers are processed in order to establish their fingerprint.

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3

Demonstrate an understanding of the role of forensic art within forensic examinations.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1

Reasons why a forensic artist must adhere to ethical prescripts are explained in terms of its effect on the judicial process.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE

Ethical prescripts includes statement of capabilities; dealings with other artists; redoing composite drawings; conduct when dealing with victims, witnesses and family members; dealing with questionable witnesses; conduct when dealing with law enforcement agencies and other forensic scientists; release of information; insufficient information; inappropriate requests; and dealing with the media.

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2

A composite drawing is justified in a given situation.

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.

Assessors must be competent in the outcomes of this unit standard.

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE

How forensic art developed into the existing science.

2-Dimensional facial reconstruction.

3-Dimensional facial reconstruction.

Skin-depth measurements collected: 21 points for males and females for the three racial groups.

Relevant sections of the following Acts:

> The Human Tissue Act 65 of 1983.
> The National Health Act 61 of 2003.
> The Inquests Act 58 of 1959.
> The Health Professions Act 56 of 1974.
> The Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
> The Occupational Health And Safety Act 85 of1993.

Preparation includes but is not limited to:

> Protecting, assembling and evaluation of the skull.
> Gathering as much information concerning the particular case such as anthropological information (for example evaluation to determine age, sex, and ancestry on the skull).
> Perusing written documentation of the care, custody, and control of a skull or any evidence according to organisational and legal prescripts.
> Performing an inventory of the teeth.
> Marking of the skull with the case particulars.
> Record keeping of pertinent information about the individual skull in the case file.
> Storing of the skull in a controlled and secure environment.
> Taking precautionary measures against contamination.
> Determining of potential DNA specimens.
> Securing the teeth in the skull.
> Evaluating the dentition for potential useful information before gluing the mandible to the cranium.

Reconstruction includes the following:

> Drawing to establish facial contours.
> Drawing of the eyes-frontal and lateral views.
> Drawing of the nose-frontal and lateral views and based on the nasal spine.
> Drawing of the mouth- frontal and lateral views and taking dentures into consideration.
> Drawing of the ears- frontal and lateral views.
> Drawing of the hair based on specimen, if available.
> Drawing of other details.
> Copying with solid sheet of paper between tracing paper and skull photo for distribution.

UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME

N/A

UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES

N/A

Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO):

UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING

Problem solving is covered in that a learner must be able analyse the information or skull and determine how to go about identifying the individual.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING

Working in a team when assisting the expert in a forensic investigative environment.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING

Self management in that the learner is responsible for organising and managing him/herself in the collection and preservation of data.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING

Learners are required to collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information relating to Forensic Art in a forensic investigative environment.

UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING

Learners are required to communicate accurate information about issues of Forensic Art relating to the scene of death using a variety of communication methods.

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	57977	National Certificate: Forensic Biology	Level 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"	2023-06-30	SAS 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.

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