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Occupational Qualification · D26

Discretionary Grant · Rolling

Dragline Operator

QCTO Aligned Audit-ReadyMQA
NQF Level
NQF Level 3
Credits
75
Duration
—
SAQA ID
101669
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Official QCTO Registry Profile

Source: SAQA / QCTO registry
SAQA ID
101669
Min Credits
75
Registered
2018-07-01
Re-registration
2023-06-30
Field
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology
Sub-field
Engineering and Related Design

Sample Asset Preview

Curriculum Alignment MatrixCRN ZA-SDP-2026-089
Curriculum Alignment Matrix — page 1
Curriculum Alignment Matrix — page 2
Curriculum Alignment Matrix — page 3
Curriculum Alignment Matrix — page 4
Curriculum Alignment Matrix — page 5
Page 1 of 5

Overview & Scope

Programme Profile

Target Designation
Certified Dragline Operator Practitioner
Competency Focus
Master specialised practical applications, safety criteria, and regulatory mandates required of a qualified Dragline Operator.
Academic Weight
Full national recognition at NQF Level 3 yielding 75 credits upon successful PoE verification.
Work Opportunities
Deployment across As a qualified dragline operator, you can find employment opportunities in Mining and Minerals. Your skills will be in demand across both public and private sectors, and you may also choose to work as an independent contractor or start your own business in this field. operations under MQA scope.
Audit Objective
Bridges operational skills deficits under the governing MQA quality matrix.
Value Proposition
Measurable, legally compliant skills that optimise productivity, satisfy Workplace Skills Plans (WSP), and unlock B-BBEE scorecard weight.
Introduction▾

The Dragline Operator is a Occupational Certificate set at NQF Level 3, comprising 75 credits. This qualification has been carefully developed to provide you with the essential knowledge, practical skills, and workplace experience needed to excel in your chosen field. Whether you are starting your career or looking to formalise your existing expertise, this programme offers a structured pathway to competence and recognition.

Purpose▾

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Dragline Operator. A Dragline Operator operates and controls a dragline which manipulates large buckets to move great amounts of earth or other material for mining or construction operations. The qualified learner will know the function and operating requirements for the dragline, including health, safety and the environmental requirements to be able to operate the machine productively and safely. A qualified learner will be able to: • Lift, move and dump material using a dragline.

Entry Requirements▾

Recognition of Prior Learning (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 or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • Level 1 with communication and mathematical literacy.

SAQA Rationale▾

There is a need in various sectors of the South African economy for machine operators. In particular, draglines are essential to the construction and mining sectors. South African legislation requires persons/to be trained and assessed competent before operating a dragline machine. This qualification will train and develop the qualified learner with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to ensure draglines are operated productively and safely. This will also improve the standard of training and assessment, which will lead to better operations and improved safety and will improve mobility of employment. Most learners will already be employed. The career progression for machine operators will be to other machine operator specialisations and to occupations in operations, engineering or training.

Learning Assumed to be in Place & RPL▾

Recognition of Prior Learning (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 or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • Level 1 with communication and mathematical literacy.

Exit Level Outcomes▾
  • Carry-out start and end-of-shift procedures and checks, using the knowledge and understanding of the dragline specifications, operational standards and operating systems.
  • Operate the dragline, using the knowledge and understanding of its performance parameters, operation controls and standards.
  • Work safely, applying the knowledge and understanding of relevant legal and company requirements, hazard identification and risk assessment processes and procedures, including environmental and operating conditions.

Learning Material Included

  • Learner Guide (Theory and Knowledge Modules)
  • Facilitator Guide
  • Workplace Logbook
  • Formative and Summative Assessment
  • Assessor Guide & Marking Memorandum
  • SETA / QCTO Alignment Matrix
  • Administrative & Onboarding Pack
  • Implementation Plan

Moderator-Ready Curriculum Breakdown

7 modules · 42 credits

Theory, regulatory and safety knowledge. Each row carries the registered module code, NQF level and credit weight used for formative assessment rubric mapping.

  • 734211000-KM-016 cr

    Workplace fundamentals

    NQF Level 2

  • 734211000-KM-028 cr

    Health, safety and the environment

    NQF Level 2

  • 734211000-KM-034 cr

    Operations and machines

    NQF Level 2

  • 734211000-KM-045 cr

    Components, controls and consumables

    NQF Level 2

Sub-total credits23
QCTO & MQA AlignedSAQA 101669

Qualification 101669 · Curriculum Architecture

Occupational Certificate: Dragline Operator · NQF Level 3 (75 Credits)

Filter View
§ 01

Three Curriculum Pillars

23
Credits

Knowledge Modules

Classroom & E-Learning

KM-01 to KM-04 · 4 modules
  • Facilitated lectures & self-study
  • Written question banks
  • Formative comprehension checks
19
Credits

Practical Skill Modules

Simulated Line Tasks

PM-01 to PM-03 · 3 modules
  • Simulated line tasks
  • Observation rubrics
  • Structured task sheets
0
Credits

Work Experience Modules

On-the-Job Production

WM-01 to WM-00 · 0 modules
  • On-the-job rotation
  • Mentor logbooks
  • Workplace sign-offs
§ 02

Evidence & Audit Pipeline

Learner Portfolio of Evidence (PoE)
Owner · Candidate
▾
1
Admin & Registration

ID, learner contract, induction pack, POPIA consent.

2
Knowledge Evidence

Written assessments & question banks — KM-01 to KM-07.

3
Practical Evidence

Task sheets, observation rubrics, assessor photos.

4
Workplace Evidence

Logbooks, mentor sign-offs, supervisor letters.

Assessor Master File
Owner · Registered Assessor
▾
5
Assessment Reports

Judgements, learner feedback, remediation agreements, appeals log.

Internal Moderation & Quality File
Owner · Moderator / SDP
▾
6
Moderation Evidence

10% sampling matrix, HACCP/LOTO compliance sheets, SDP sign-off.

§ 03

Final Accreditation Gateway

Step 1
Statement of Results

Issued by the accredited Skills Development Provider once internal moderation is signed off.

Step 2
EISA Readiness Declaration

Provider submits declaration + PoE to the Assessment Quality Partner (AQP).

Step 3
National Qualification Certificate

QCTO awards the SAQA-registered certificate on successful EISA outcome.

Learner Certified · Uploaded to National Learner Records Database (NLRD)

Audit & Compliance

Evidence & Audit Pipeline

From portfolio assembly to external sign-off — the exact route your evidence travels.

  1. Step 1

    PoE Assembly

    Learner evidence, formative records and logbook entries filed against the alignment matrix.

  2. Step 2

    Internal Assessment

    Registered assessor judges each KM/PM/WM outcome using the supplied instruments.

  3. Step 3

    Internal Moderation

    Sampling and verification of assessor decisions, with remediation loop before submission.

  4. Step 4

    External Moderation

    SETA/QCTO desktop audit and certification upload against registered credits.

Broken Standard vs i2Graduates Standard

The measurable delta between improvised material and an audit-ready suite.

Broken Standard

i2Graduates Standard

Curriculum Mapping

Photocopied guides with mismatched outcomes

4 KM + 3 PM + 0 WM modules mapped to NQF Level 3

Assessment Bank

Missing formative and summative assessments

Pre-validated assessment bank per module

Alignment Evidence

No alignment matrix — audit fails

MQA alignment matrix included

Facilitation

Facilitators improvise Dragline Operator delivery

Facilitator scripts + learner activities per credit

Portfolio of Evidence

PoE gaps flagged in moderation

PoE templates that survive external moderation

View on SAQA

Pricing & Delivery Tiers

Base licence from R48 750

Digital Master Suite

Editable master files, licensed to your SDP

  • Learner Guide, Facilitator Guide & Assessment Suite
  • Workplace logbook + alignment matrix (editable)
  • Instant digital delivery under institutional licence
  • Free minor corrections for 12 months
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Most selected

Turnkey Print & Bound Package

Printed, bound and couriered per learner

  • Everything in the Digital Master Suite
  • Full-colour print, wire-bound learner packs
  • Per-learner PoE folders and dividers
  • Nationwide courier with tracked delivery
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Full Enterprise Accreditation Bundle

Assets plus accreditation support end-to-end

  • Everything in the Print & Bound Package
  • Bespoke QMS build mapped to your scope
  • Moderation dry-run + written remediation report
  • Brand & metadata integration across the suite
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Complementary Services

Optional add-ons that harden your accreditation scope before an external audit.

Bespoke QMS Build

We author your Quality Management System — policies, procedures, records, matrices — mapped to your accreditation scope. From R18,500.

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Moderation Consultation

External moderation dry-run on your PoE + delivery pack. Written report with fixes before your real audit. From R4,900.

Book Moderation Session

The i2Graduates Quality Guarantee

Every page of this bundle is checked for sequence and structural accuracy — no missing pages, no shortcuts. You get pre-validated assessment instruments ready to survive rigorous compliance moderation, wrapped in a curriculum your facilitators will enjoy teaching.