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The Certificate is offered over the course of one year part-time. For more information please contact the Administrator for the School of Commerce, Philosophy and Applied Ethics on 011 380 9056 or the Assisant Registrar (Undergraduate) on: 011 380 9012.
To complete an application form please  click here to download one.
WHY?
- "Politicians are corrupt. They're in it for themselves"
- "Democracy is the worst form of government - except for all other forms of government"
- "We, the people ..."
- "I am an African"
If any of these statements resonate with you, the Certificate in Political Leadership may be what you seek.
Here in South Africa we have completed fifteen years of liberal democracy. For many of  us this has been exciting. Some remain enthusiastic; others have become confused, even cynical. Many politicians perhaps feel thrown into the public life with little preparation, with limited experience and knowledge of what it means to be political leaders. This programme seeks to help us develop or improve on our skills in politics and leadership- for the good not only of ourselves but also the communities and constituencies we serve. For all of us, it seeks to promote a more subtle, informed insight into forces that affect our lives.
WHAT?The Certificate in Political Leadership (CPL) is an undergraduate one-year, part-time programme offered by St Augustine College.
It is offered at NQF level 5 (140 credits)
Originally developed in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, it aims to provide a basic education in politics for those without a tertiary education or those without an academic background in political studies. The CPL focuses on basic questions in politics today, like:
- What is democracy?
- How democratic systems work?
- South African democracy - its development and forms.
- Local and community-based politics.
- Political communication and the politics of communication.
- Human rights and the rule of law.
- Political ethics and developing an ethic for politicians.
WHO?The CPL started as a course for people in political parties - local councillors, members of legislatives, full-time party workers - who did not have a formal education in political science. Indeed, it was aimed primarily at those who did not have a tertiary education. The minimum requirement, apart for an interest in the subject, is successful completion of high school (Grade12, the old matric or equivalent). People with tertiary qualifications are, however, also welcome to apply.
Please note: The CPL is a one-year, part-time programme. It is not the equivalent of a first-year level university course in Political Science.
COURSE OUTLINEThe CPL programme contains a number of fundamental, core and elective modules. Students take all the fundamental and core modules and then may choose three electives.
Fundamental Modules
- Introduction to social theory - in which we examine questions like:
- what is society (if indeed it exists)?
- what is the state?
- what is politics?
- Practical communication skills - Is a practical module in which we examine the nature of communication and its various forms. The focus here is on "learning by doing".
Core Modules
- What is democracy? - in which we try to define democracy, its development and forms, while also looking critically at its alternatives.
- How South Africa's democracy works - in which we work at the development of democracy in South Africa, the 1994 transition, and the various organs of democracy and their functions.
- Being a true democrat - in which we consider the role of ethics in the public life, develop an ethics for politicians and consider the moral challenges politics poses.
Elective Modules
- Political communication: getting the message across: which looks more closely at the role of communications in politics, forms of communication (speeches, campaigning, "propaganda") and the technologies of communication.
- Bill of Rights - provides an in-depth examination of the South African Bill of Rights, its implications and the notion of a "human rights" culture.
- Justice and Law in South Africa - examines the notions of justice in South Africa and of the rule of law.
- Politics and the Community - considers politics as it affects people at the grassroots: how global and national politics impacts on the lives of ordinary people and how community organising can give people a "voice".
- The challenges of nation-building - interrogates two understandings of the term "nation-building" (humanitarian intervention to restore/create democracy; creating a national identity) and considers the roles played by truth commissions, national symbols, economic politics and the generators of a "common history" in building a stable, democratic society.
Structure of Certificate in Political Leadership
The Certificate is a one-year, part-time programme. It is normally divided into four lecture weeks, starting in February. Students attend each block full-time and must do both fundamental, 3 core and 3 elective modules. Two modules are taught each week, normally one in the morning sessions and one in the afternoon sessions.
Assessment
Students are assessed through a combination of written and oral examinations, written assignments and class participation. 35% of the module is based on oral examinations and class participation, 65% on examinations and assignments.
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