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

Demonstrate an understanding of the Public Finance Management Act (PMFA) and related Treasury Regulations 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
377913  Demonstrate an understanding of the Public Finance Management Act (PMFA) and related Treasury Regulations 
ORIGINATOR
Task Team - Public Sector 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  NQF Level 05  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
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 is for learners who are working within or aspire to work within PFMA compliant institutions including Government Departments, Constitutional Institutions and Public Entities. This unit standard will enable the learner to demonstrate an understanding of the Public Finance Management Act and related Treasury Regulations.

A learner credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Formulate linkages between the Constitution and the PFMA and explain the roles and responsibilities of the relevant treasuries.
  • Determine the implications of strategic planning, annual performance planning and budgeting in departments, constitutional institutions and public entities.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of different arrangements and measurements in terms of the PFMA. 
    		•

    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 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Formulate linkages between the Constitution and the PFMA and explain the roles and responsibilities of the relevant treasuries. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Roles and responsibilities related to relevant revenue funds and national and provincial budgets. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The relationship between the Constitution and the PFMA is explained and the roles of relevant treasuries are identified in accordance with the relevant prescripts of chapter 13 of the Constitution. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Banking, cash management and investment frameworks are discussed as prescribed in the relevant sections of the PFMA and Treasury Regulations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Delegations by the national and provincial treasuries are explained in accordance with the PFMA and Treasury Regulations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Expenditure and use of funds are explained in relation to circumstances when expenditure may take place before an annual expenditure is passed and when funds may be used in emergency situations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The roles and responsibilities of relevant treasuries are determined as they relate to annual budgets and relevant revenue funds. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Determine the implications of strategic planning, annual performance planning and budgeting in departments, constitutional institutions and public entities. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Budgeting only in departments and constitutional institutions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Strategic and annual performance planning are discussed in terms of related processes and content of the plans. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The importance of monitoring and evaluation processes are explained in terms of determining progress against strategic and annual performance plans. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The purpose and implications of specific concepts are determined as they relate to budgeting. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Specific concepts include but are not limited to virements, rollovers and transfer of functions.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate an understanding of different arrangements and measurements in terms of the PFMA. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Different arrangements and measurements include financial management, governance and accountability and punitive measures in place for non-compliance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Revenue, expenditure, asset and liability (REAL) management are described as provided for in the PFMA and Treasury Regulations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A differentiation is made between finance and operating leases taking cognisance of relevant Treasury Regulations and Practice Notes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    A differentiation is made between different types of expenditure to reflect what is unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Concepts, processes and structures within the relevant chapters of the Treasury Regulations and sections of the PFMA are discussed in terms of their implications on auditing. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Concepts, processes and structures include but are not limited to internal audit, internal controls, audit committees and risk management.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The general and reporting responsibilities of accounting officers and authorities entrusted with financial management are explained as they relate to governance and accountability. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Responsibilities include but are not limited to supply chain management.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Financial management processes and concepts are discussed to reflect their definition and impact in accordance with the PFMA and Treasury Regulations. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Financial management processes and concepts include but are not limited to statutory functions of the executive authorities, delegations of authority, financial misconduct, processes related to the investigation and reporting of financial misconduct, sanctions related to financial misconduct.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through Recognition of Prior Learning) 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 with 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 with 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 
    Purpose of processes and procedures of:
  • Financial management concepts.
  • Auditing processes and concepts.

    Cause and effect, implications and attributes of:
  • Financial misconduct.
  • Investigation and reporting of financial misconduct, sanctions related to financial misconduct.
  • Understand the relationship between the SCOA structures and the basis used by Government for strategic and financial planning, i.e. management by objectives.
  • Understand the correlation between public sector planning, budgeting and reporting, and how SCOA is aligned with this.

    Procedures and techniques:
  • General and reporting responsibilities.
  • Strategic and annual performance planning.

    Regulations, legislation, agreements and policies:
  • Constitutional framework.
  • Public Finance Management Act.
  • Public Audit Act.
  • National Treasury Regulations.
  • Municipal Finance Management Act.

    Theory-Rules, laws and principles:
  • Rules of accounting.
  • Rules of auditing.

    Relationships and systems:
  • Monitoring and evaluation processes are explained to reflect their importance in terms of progress against strategic and annual performance plans.
  • Formulate linkages between the Constitution and the PFMA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made when:
  • Interpreting aspects of financial misconduct. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, and community during:
  • Discussing banking, cash management and investment frameworks. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively through:
  • Determine the implications of strategic planning, annual performance planning and budgeting in departments, constitutional institutions and public entities. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information when:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of different arrangements and measurements in terms of the PFMA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion when:
  • Undertaking research activities. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Using science, technology and indigenous knowledge effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others through:
  • Using technology. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrating an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation when:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the Public Finance Management Act (PMFA) and the Treasury Regulations. 
    		•

    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.
     
    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.