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: 

Give evidence in court 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
244182  Give evidence in court 
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  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
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 replaces: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
11498  Attend and give evidence in court  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will lead learners towards achieving knowledge, skills and attitudes that would enable them to prepare for, attend, and give evidence in a court of law. Learners will be able to understand court structures, functions and procedures and will also be able to describe the functions, roles and responsibilities of court personnel. This unit standard will enable learners to demonstrate an elementary understanding of law of evidence. This competency relates to the learners ability to differentiate between factual and circumstantial evidence that will enable them to review their presentations in court.

A person credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Prepare to give evidence in court.
  • Give evidence in court of law in a given scenario.
  • Debrief the organisation on the presentation of evidence in the court of law in a way that will contribute towards future improvement. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Communication at NQF Level 2 or equivalent.
  • Mathematical literacy at NQF Level 2 or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    This unit standard is for personnel working in a any environment who has to attend and give evidence in a court of law in order to solve court cases. Learners credited with this unit standard will be able to present themselves confidently and unambiguously to a court of law and give reliable, truthful and honest evidence in order to contribute towards the resolving of court cases. The learner will also be able to understand and adhere to court procedures, protocol, functions and structures within a court. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Prepare to give evidence in court. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Prepare to give evidence in court may include but is not limited to techniques to counter the abuse and/or intimidation of witnesses. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The purpose of preparing oneself to present evidence is described in terms of its possible impact on the case. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Evidence to reflect statements taken from, pocket book, observation records, personal experiences and observations.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Factual information is distinguished from circumstantial information regarding a specified case. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Rules of evidence are described in terms of their relevance when giving evidence in a court. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Rules of evidence may include but are not limited to the rules of evidence in terms of the Criminal Procedures Act 51 of 1977 as amended and court rules.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Court personnel are described in terms of their roles and responsibilities. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Court personnel may include but are not limited to State Prosecutor and investigation officers, interpreters, presiding officer, audience, witnesses, attorneys, clerk of the court, court orderly, police escort.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Court procedures are described in terms of their effect on accepted court protocol. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Court protocol may refer to the manner of addressing the presiding officer and other role players and giving evidence.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Court structures are described in terms of their functions. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Present evidence in court. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    This outcome may be assessed in a given situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Evidence to be presented is structured in a logical sequence based on facts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Evidence to be presented is assessed to minimise ambiguities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Evidence is provided in a given situation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Provision of evidence must adhere to court procedures, functions and protocol.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Debrief role-players on presented evidence. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Role-players include but not limited to organisation that he represents and clients. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The purpose of debriefing is described in order to inform future presentations of evidence. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Problems experienced while giving evidence are identified in order to improve future participation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Problems experienced may include but is not limited to personal difficulties experienced before and during the court case.
     


    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 
    Refer to the specific outcomes and the assessment criteria contained in this unit standard and specifically to:
  • Structures of the South African courts.
  • Legal aspects of giving evidence.
  • Court protocol.
  • Review procedure.
  • Case docket: facts and circumstances of the case.
  • The concept of hearsay evidence.
  • The concepts of objective and reliable evidence.
  • Concepts of reasonable doubt and probabilities. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems related to the evaluation of own performance in giving evidence in court for future improvement. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others involved in the giving of evidence in a court. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise oneself and one's activities in such a way as to have all and any evidence available and accurate for giving evidence in court. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information related to the presentation of evidence in a court of law, in a logical sequence and appropriate to the law of evidence principles so that these are accurately interpreted into application performance standards. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively when giving evidence in court. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of related systems where in that court procedures are adhered to in accordance with the criminal justice system. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    In order to contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large, it must be the intention underlying any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of: being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts when giving evidence in court. 

    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 
    This unit standard replaces unit standard 11498, "Attend and give evidence in court", Level 3, 6 credits.

    Supplementary Information:

    Specified Requirements:

    Specified requirements include legal and legislative specific requirements and are contained in one or more of the following documents:
  • Legal:
    > Applicable section of the Criminal Procedures Act 51 of 1977.
    > Relevant applicable legislation specific to the evidence given.
  • Context Specific:
    > Training provider user manuals.
    > Specifications, agreements, policies and procedures.
  • Resources required for Assessment:
    > Reconstruction of a courtroom.
    > Relevant role players for court scenario.
    > Necessary administrative and stationary issue.
    > Criterion referenced assessment instructions/tools.
    > A suitable venue: classroom. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  58577   National Certificate: General Security Practices  Level 3  NQF Level 03  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.
     
    NONE 


    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.