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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Elementary Occupational Certificate: Mining Team Leader 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
121127  Elementary Occupational Certificate: Mining Team Leader 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - MQA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Elementary Occupational Cert  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Engineering and Related Design 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 02  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0820/23  2023-11-14  2028-11-14 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2029-11-14   2031-11-14  

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 qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to be a Mining Team Leader.
A Mining Team Leader plans, organises, controls, leads, coordinates and reviews production operations of the team; in accordance with statutory, regulatory and organisational procedures, policies, codes of practice, standards and agreements. The curriculum will be contextualised to mining underground hard-rock, underground coal, or surface operations, as applicable.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Apply, exercise, and ensure safety, health, and environmental measures and procedures, for mining operations.
  • Conduct the waiting place/ assembly point procedure, entry examinations, and safe declarations, for mining operations.
  • Supervise mining production operations.
  • Troubleshoot; identify and address mining-related problems.
  • Solve problems in respect of mining operations, ventilation, and mining health and safety.
  • Communicate effectively and professionally in respect of technical and practical mine operations.

    Rationale:
    Mining Team Leaders who are appointed must be qualified, by virtue of their knowledge, training, skills, and experience, to perform the activities contemplated; and must be trained, assessed, and found competent, in accordance with recognised training and development programmes, so there is the need for this qualification.
    Typical learners for this qualification will be miners who would like to advance their skills in the mining environment. Learners registering for this qualification will typically be working within the mining industry. There is currently no similar qualification registered on the NQF.
    A typical learning pathway in mining production operations would be, to begin with an occupational qualification at NQF Level 1 or 2, proceed to Team Leader at NQF Level 2, then Miner at NQF Level 3, Shift Supervisor, at NQF Level 4, Mine Overseer at NQF Level 5 and Mine Manager at NQF Level 7.
    The work is done in excavations that do not exist naturally but are created through rock breaking and blasting activities, on the surface, and underground. This unique environment holds many hazards and risks for all personnel. The skills required to master the work in this occupation are complex and require dedicated learning, application, and specialised technical skills.
    Mining will remain the backbone of the South African economy for many years to come, and with the advance of technology, there will, in the coming decades, be opportunities to return to and access the minerals left behind in the older mines. The mining and minerals sector will also be able to access resources that are currently too deep to mine. The development of occupational competence as set out in this qualification is essential to capitalise on these technological advances.
    Development of the qualification was in consultation with sector practitioners and providers and through the Minerals Council South Africa, Trade Unions, and the DMRE (Department of Mineral Resources and Energy).
    This qualification will benefit society in terms of skills and technical competencies since qualifying learners will improve work standards, health and safety, effectiveness, and contribute significantly to the growth of the country's economy.
    The Mining Team Leader is a first-line supervisor of a unit. A number of units, led by the Team Leader, report to the Miner. Team Leaders are appointed extensively in the sector. There is no professional registration required for this qualification. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
  • Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited education institution, skills development provider or workplace accredited to offer that specific qualification/part qualification.
  • Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part qualification will be credited for modules through RPL.


    RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment:
    Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result.

    Entry Requirements:
  • An NQF Level 1 in Communications and Mathematics qualification. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:

    Knowledge Modules:
  • 312102-002-00-KM-01 Health, Safety, and the Environment, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 312102-002-00-KM-02 Mining Operations, NQF Level 2, 4. Credits.
  • 312102-002-00-KM-03 Crew Supervision, NQF Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 312102-002-00-KM-04 Production Operations, NQF Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 312102-002-00-KM-05 Team Leadership, NQF Level 3, 8 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 28

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • 312102-002-00-PM-01 Apply, Exercise, and Ensure Safety, Health and Environmental Principles and Procedures, NQF Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 312102-002-00-PM-02 Conduct Entry Examinations and Safe Declarations, NQF Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 312102-002-00-PM-03 Supervise Production Operations, NQF Level 2, 36 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 52

    Work Experience Modules:
  • 312102-002-00-WM-01 Mine Safe Declaration Operations, NQF Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 312102-002-00-WM-02 Mining Production Operations, NQF Level 2, 32 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 40 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Carry out and conduct safety, health and environmental operations, interpreting, applying, and exercising policies, procedures, performance parameters, controls, and operating standards.
    2. Conduct the waiting-place/ assembly point, entry examinations, and safe declaration operations, interpreting, applying, and exercising policies, procedures, performance parameters, controls, and operating standards.
    3. Conduct mining production operations, interpreting, applying, and exercising policies, procedures, performance parameters, controls, and operating standards.
    4. Demonstrate the ability to troubleshoot, identify and address mining-related problems.
    5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and professionally in respect of technical and practical mine operations. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Operational knowledge and understanding of problem-solving, occupational health, safety and the environmental requirements, geology, ground and strata control, support, hazard identification and risk assessment, examining and making safe, and statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements, is applied.
  • Pre-, start-, and end-of-shift process and procedure, and associated reporting, is completed, in accordance with requirements.
  • Safety, health and environmental measures and responsibilities are applied, exercised, and ensured, in accordance with requirements.
  • Ground/ rock strata conditions are dealt with, in accordance with requirements.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Apply operational knowledge and understanding of problem-solving, occupational health, safety and the environmental requirements, geology, ground and strata control, support, hazard identification and risk assessment, examining and making safe, and statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
  • Complete pre- start-, and end-of-shift processes and procedures, and associated reporting in accordance with requirements.
  • Conduct the waiting place/ assembly point procedure, entry examinations, and safe declarations in accordance with requirements.
  • Supervise the entry examination team, in accordance with requirements.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Apply operational knowledge and understanding of problem-solving, occupational health, safety and the environmental requirements, geology, ground, and strata control, support, hazard identification and risk. assessment, mining operations, environmental control/ ventilation, rock/ geotechnical engineering, explosives and blasting, production supervision, and statutory, regulatory, and organisational compliance.
  • Complete pre-, start-, and end-of-shift process and procedure, and associated reporting in accordance with requirements.
  • Apply, exercise and ensure safety, health and environmental measures and responsibilities in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
  • Complete team engagement and consultation, and administration functions in accordance with organisational requirements.
  • Supervise production operations in accordance with requirements.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Analyse and solve problems in accordance with requirements.
  • Supervise production operations in accordance with requirements.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Communication is fluent and understandable, in accordance with requirements.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative Assessment
    The Skills Development Providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated External Summative Assessment.

    Summative Assessment
    An External Integrated Summative Assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required to issue this qualification. The External Integrated Summative Assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. Additional to the written assessment the learner must also submit a portfolio of evidence compiled of outcomes achieved in the workplace. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    South African mines are of the deepest in the world, which has required a high level of expertise and the maintenance of stringent occupational health and safety standards. The Mining Team Leader is an appointment unique to South Africa and is not found anywhere else in the world. The Team Leader is an appointment between Mine Worker and Miner, which other countries do not have.

    The specific nature of underground hardrock mining requires competencies and personal characteristics which are unique in relation to other forms of mining or minerals extraction. The mining conditions are intense, and workers are subject to physical and emotional challenges relating to restricted space, heat, humidity, darkness and hard physical labour.

    The materials, equipment and techniques applied in underground hardrock mining are very specialised and there are few countries in the world where deep scale mining is practised. Two countries were selected where similar qualifications were found, Australia and New Zealand.

    Australia:
    The RII20420 - Certificate II in Underground Metalliferous Mining.

    There are no entry requirements.

    The qualification is offered by nationally registered Training Providers: Mine Resilience Australia Pty Ltd, Ocurrio Pty Ltd and Port Macquarie Community College Inc. The qualification has a nominal duration of one (1) year. The qualification may be delivered and assessed in the workplace or in a simulated environment. Assessment is equivalent to the formative assessment in this qualification. External assessment is not a requirement.

    The qualification includes similar units of competency to the South African Qualification, as follows:
  • Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices.
  • Work effectively with others.
  • Plan and organise work; identify and rectify site operating problems.
  • Support underground shotfiring operations.
  • Store, handle and transport explosives.
  • Communicate in the workplace.
  • Suppress airborne contaminants.
  • Maintain and monitor site quality standards.
  • Conduct local risk control.
  • Use hand and power tools.
  • Apply operational maintenance skills.
  • Install ground support.
  • Install and maintain ventilation.
  • Prepare and perform manual scaling operations.
  • Conduct skip operations.
  • Work safely and follow WHS policies and procedures.
  • Enter and work in confined spaces.
  • Work safely at heights
  • Conduct dewatering operations in underground mining operations..
    The certificate II in Underground Metalliferous Mining articulates to RII30315 - Certificate III in Underground Metalliferous Mining, which is similar to South Africa, where the Team Leader articulates to Miner.

    New Zealand:
    Certificate in Mining and Quarrying, Level 2, 40 Credits; New Zealand Certificate in Underground Mining, Level 3, 95 Credits. The Level 2 Certificate is an entry-level qualification. Graduates of the Level 3 qualifications will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge of mine safety systems and the underground environment to participate in risk assessment and health, safety, and environmental procedures, and work safely in an underground mining site.
  • Apply knowledge of underground mining processes, strata/ground control, and installation of services to safely complete underground mining workplace tasks as directed.
  • Safely and productively operate the mobile plant, machinery, and/or equipment used in underground mining and tunnelling.
  • Adapt to change, communicate, and work effectively as part of a team within an underground mining workplace.

    All these competencies are included in the Mining Team Leader qualification, at NQF Level 2. Training Providers offering these qualifications include MITO New Zealand (Inc.).

    Similarities:
    The similarities between these Australia's and New Zealand qualifications, and South Africa's occupation certificate are the contents and the exit-level competencies, especially regarding mining operations; ventilation; health and safety; and environmental conservation.

    Differences:
    The differences are in terms of the terminologies in respect of the qualifications and the occupations they lead to.

    Conclusion:
    Based on the comparisons above, the conclusion is that the Elementary Occupational Certificate: Mining Team Leader can be considered comparable to qualifications in other countries. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification provides opportunities for the following articulation options:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Occupational Certificate: Lamproom Assistant, NQF Level 2.
  • National Certificate: Vocational, NQF Level 2.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Intermediate Occupational Certificate: Miner NQF Level 3.

    Diagonal Articulation:
  • National Certificate: Vocational, NQF Level 3. 
    		•

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for External Assessment:
    To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required knowledge and practical modules by means of statements of results and a record of completed work experience.

    Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:
  • Meet health and medical requirements.
  • Meet all organisation and legal requirements to enter the training programme.
  • Must be in possession of the appropriate Certificate of Competency issued by the DMRE.


    Criteria for the accreditation of providers:
    Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO Website.

    The curriculum title and code is: Mining Team Leader: 312102-002-00-00

    Encompassed Trade:
    This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:
  • None.

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP)
  • Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) 
    		•

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    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.