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

Strengthen and implement sustainable public sector ethical practices 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
242916  Strengthen and implement sustainable public sector ethical practices 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Public Administration and Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Public Administration 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 7  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7  8 
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 is intended for elected political leaders and public sector officials involved with the service delivery activities. This Unit Standard will enable the learner to investigate the ethical dimensions of public administration and therein explore the ethical dilemmas and social factors that determine the prevalence of ethical conduct within public administration.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Explaining different theories of ethics and applying them to the practice of public administration.
  • Identifying the ethical issues that typically arise for public sector.
  • Identifying existing codes of ethical conduct and evaluating them for efficacy and sustainability.
  • Identifying the ways in which public sector ethics can be strengthened. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    All learners accessing this unit standard must be in possession of Level 6 Public Administration diploma, degree or equivalent. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain different theories of ethics and apply them to the practice of public administration. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The main schools of thought pertaining to ethics are discussed and compared with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Ethical concepts are utilised insightfully in describing social policy and public administration issues. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Concepts include but are not limited to values, morals, norms, action, intention, belief, attitudes, crime, punishment, redemption, behaviour.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Discourses on ethics are conducted critically and informatively to demonstrate an underlying understanding of the main realities pertaining to ethics. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The typical behaviour of persons involved in public administration are evaluated from an ethical and normative perspective. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify the ethical issues that typically arise for public sector. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Contemporary issues pertaining to own public sector context are identified and discussed from an ethical perspective. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Typical ethical problems and dilemmas arising from bureaucracy and power are discussed with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Typical ethical problems and dilemmas arising from public administration are discussed with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Public administration values are described in an ethical context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Values include but are not limited to conflicts of interest, accountability, transparency, honesty, reliability, truth and justice.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Identify existing codes of ethical conduct and evaluating them for efficacy and sustainability. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The civil service code of conduct is critically assessed in line with ethical principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Batho Pele code of conduct is critically assessed in line with ethical principles. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Laws and regulations affecting public administration are assessed in line with ethical principles and codes of conduct. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Common law principles pertaining to the rule of law and administrative law are considered in assessing ethical codes and contemporary codes of conduct. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Identify the ways in which public sector ethics can be strengthened. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Pubic choice theory in relation to incentives is discussed as a determinant of ethical or non-ethical behaviour. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Incentives to corruption and criminal behaviour are classified and analysed in the context of public administration. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Penalties and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in implementing law are assessed with a view to sustaining ethical behaviour in public administration. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Incentives and protection systems for enhancement of positive ethical behaviour are critically evaluated and compared in line with public sector objectives. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any 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, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding 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, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The Public Services Act.
  • The Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Structures Act.
  • The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.
  • The Promotion of Access the Information Act.
  • The Batho-Pele White Paper on Transforming Public Sector Service Delivery.
  • Public Sector Corporate Governance policies and procedures.
  • Public Finance Management act.
  • The concept and theories of ethics.
  • Analytical skills.
  • Communication skills.
  • Rhetorical skills. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking processes in order resolve ethical dilemmas. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community to implement codes of conduct and acceptable ethical behaviour within the public sector. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly in order to critically assess ethical problems and seek solutions to address these. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information in order to assess ethical codes of conduct. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion to convey ethical codes of conduct. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility to the environment and health of others, as a tool to assess ethical dilemmas and implement codes of conduct. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of interrelated systems by recognising that problem solving contexts relating the public service ethics do not exist in isolation and that a variety of factors, sensitivities, stakeholders, politics and bureaucracy may impact on overall ethical values and codes of conduct. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities by ensuring that ethical codes of conduct comply with public sector values, laws and policy.

    Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of contexts to ensure that ethical matters are addressed in a professional way. 

    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
    Core  64670   National Certificate: Public Financial Oversight and Accountability  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 
    Core  63711   Bachelor of Geographical Information Science (GISc)  Level 7  NQF Level 07  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2018-06-30   
    Fundamental  57827   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 


    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.