CRW
2603
STUDY
PACK
2023
,INTRODUCTION
Literature and Study methods
1 GENERAL
Welcome to the module “Selected Topics of Criminal Law” with the code CRW2603. As
the name suggests, this module deals with a selection of specific crimes. The module
has been designed to work together with its sister module, “Introduction to the General
Principles of Criminal Law”, with the code CRW1501. We suggest that you first complete
the module on general principles of criminal law, as it develops the basis on which this
module – “Selected Topics of Criminal Law” – will build. The reason for this is that South
Africa follows a model where certain general aspects are considered to be common to all
crimes. These are conveniently categorised under the “General Elements of an Offence”, and
include elements such as legality, conduct, unlawfulness and culpability. These principles
form the foundation of your criminal law studies, and only after you have mastered the
general principles, should a study of specific crimes be undertaken.
It is important to note that a study of this module (CRW2603) presupposes knowledge
of the general principles of criminal law, which was discussed in the CRW1501 module.
Therefore, if you are registered for both these modules, you should first master the general
principles of criminal law (covered in CRW1501) before you continue with the specific
crimes discussed in this module.
In “Selected Topics of Criminal Law” we provide a very brief overview of the general
principles of a crime. If you have difficulty in understanding this, we suggest you refresh
your memory by referring back to the CRW1501 module. You may also look at any good
book on South African criminal law to find the required content. Then, we delve into
the topic of different participants in a crime and explain how attempt, conspiracy, and
incitement fit within the bigger criminal law landscape. The largest part of the module
will deal with specific crimes. These crimes have been selected to give you an overview
of those crimes you are most likely to deal with in your daily work.
Please note that this module is prescribed for a number of different qualifications. Some
students take this module as part of their forensic investigation qualification, while others
are studying this module as part of their policing or traffic law enforcement qualification.
As a result, the last part of the module deals with learning units that are tailored to specific
markets.
You may choose which of these modules you would like to study. Look at the beginning
of the particular module, and you will find an indication of which audience it caters to.
As a general rule, we suggest you study the modules as follows:
(ix) CRW2603/1
,• Students studying this module as part of their qualification in Policing and/or Traffic
Law Enforcement should study learning units 11 and 12;
• Students studying this module as part of their qualification in Forensic Investigation
and related fields should study learning units 13 and 14.
2 MODULE OUTCOMES
This module has two Specific outcomes, with a number of Assessment criteria.
Specific outcome 1
Demonstrate an understanding of the selected topics of criminal law.
Assessment criteria
The terms, rules, concepts, principles and theories relating to the selected topics of
criminal law are explained.
Legal problems and issues relating to the selected topics of criminal law are identified in
real or simulated factual scenarios.
The relationship between principles of criminal law and the Constitution are demonstrated.
Incomplete crimes, such as attempt, conspiracy, and incitement, are discussed.
The elements of selected offences are identified and discussed.
Completed crimes and the various bases of liability for collective participation in criminal
conduct are identified and discussed.
Specific outcome 2
Apply knowledge obtained to practical problems that may arise in the industries relating
to policing; traffic law enforcement and forensic investigation.
Assessment criteria
Legal text is used to substantiate arguments and to support solutions for specific criminal-
law issues.
Information is communicated and presented reliably in terms of basic information
technology.
3 LITERATURE
Prescribed book
There is ONE prescribed book for this module, namely:
Joubert Applied
C Law for Police Officials 5th ed (2018) Juta
(x)
, How to use the prescribed book
We wish to emphasise that you are expected to read more than merely the study guide
and that you must also consult the prescribed book on each specific topic. You may find
that you do not fully understand certain aspects of a particular topic as it is set out in
the study guide, and it is then imperative that you consult the prescribed textbook on
the matter.
For the purposes of the examination you should, however, use the study guide as your
primary source, except in respect of those topics that are not discussed in the study guide
but only in the prescribed book. Take note that certain topics that you must know for the
examination are not discussed in the study guide, but only in the prescribed book. We
will point these out to you. A serious warning, though: Do not think that because these
crimes are not discussed in the study guide, you can afford to ignore them (i.e., not study
them from the prescribed book). You should know the topics to be studied only from the
prescribed book just as well as the topics that are discussed in the study guide, because
you may get questions in the examination from both sources.
When studying a topic from the prescribed book, you need take note only of the text
itself, that is, you need not also consult, study or read the footnotes as well, unless we
draw your attention to one or more of the footnotes.
4 STUDY METHOD
Presentation of study material in study guide
You will notice that the material in the study guide is subdivided into 12 learning units. A
learning unit is a unit or part of the syllabus that deals with a certain topic. You can divide
the time you have at your disposal for studying this module into 12-time units and then
study one learning unit for each of these time units.
Contents of learning units
Every learning unit is usually subdivided into:
1. a table of contents of the material discussed in the learning unit
2. a list of learning outcomes you should keep in mind when studying the learning unit
3. a discussion of the topic covered in the learning unit
4. a concise summary of the most important elements of the topic
5. a number of “test yourself” questions
Apart from the above, you may find diagrams setting out certain components of the
material, as well as illustrations of certain situations or sets of facts dealt with in the
discussions.
The short list of learning outcomes mentioned under (2) above contains some of the
most important objectives you should keep in mind when studying a particular learning
unit. However, it is important to remember that, for the examination, you must know
(xi) CRW2603/1
2603
STUDY
PACK
2023
,INTRODUCTION
Literature and Study methods
1 GENERAL
Welcome to the module “Selected Topics of Criminal Law” with the code CRW2603. As
the name suggests, this module deals with a selection of specific crimes. The module
has been designed to work together with its sister module, “Introduction to the General
Principles of Criminal Law”, with the code CRW1501. We suggest that you first complete
the module on general principles of criminal law, as it develops the basis on which this
module – “Selected Topics of Criminal Law” – will build. The reason for this is that South
Africa follows a model where certain general aspects are considered to be common to all
crimes. These are conveniently categorised under the “General Elements of an Offence”, and
include elements such as legality, conduct, unlawfulness and culpability. These principles
form the foundation of your criminal law studies, and only after you have mastered the
general principles, should a study of specific crimes be undertaken.
It is important to note that a study of this module (CRW2603) presupposes knowledge
of the general principles of criminal law, which was discussed in the CRW1501 module.
Therefore, if you are registered for both these modules, you should first master the general
principles of criminal law (covered in CRW1501) before you continue with the specific
crimes discussed in this module.
In “Selected Topics of Criminal Law” we provide a very brief overview of the general
principles of a crime. If you have difficulty in understanding this, we suggest you refresh
your memory by referring back to the CRW1501 module. You may also look at any good
book on South African criminal law to find the required content. Then, we delve into
the topic of different participants in a crime and explain how attempt, conspiracy, and
incitement fit within the bigger criminal law landscape. The largest part of the module
will deal with specific crimes. These crimes have been selected to give you an overview
of those crimes you are most likely to deal with in your daily work.
Please note that this module is prescribed for a number of different qualifications. Some
students take this module as part of their forensic investigation qualification, while others
are studying this module as part of their policing or traffic law enforcement qualification.
As a result, the last part of the module deals with learning units that are tailored to specific
markets.
You may choose which of these modules you would like to study. Look at the beginning
of the particular module, and you will find an indication of which audience it caters to.
As a general rule, we suggest you study the modules as follows:
(ix) CRW2603/1
,• Students studying this module as part of their qualification in Policing and/or Traffic
Law Enforcement should study learning units 11 and 12;
• Students studying this module as part of their qualification in Forensic Investigation
and related fields should study learning units 13 and 14.
2 MODULE OUTCOMES
This module has two Specific outcomes, with a number of Assessment criteria.
Specific outcome 1
Demonstrate an understanding of the selected topics of criminal law.
Assessment criteria
The terms, rules, concepts, principles and theories relating to the selected topics of
criminal law are explained.
Legal problems and issues relating to the selected topics of criminal law are identified in
real or simulated factual scenarios.
The relationship between principles of criminal law and the Constitution are demonstrated.
Incomplete crimes, such as attempt, conspiracy, and incitement, are discussed.
The elements of selected offences are identified and discussed.
Completed crimes and the various bases of liability for collective participation in criminal
conduct are identified and discussed.
Specific outcome 2
Apply knowledge obtained to practical problems that may arise in the industries relating
to policing; traffic law enforcement and forensic investigation.
Assessment criteria
Legal text is used to substantiate arguments and to support solutions for specific criminal-
law issues.
Information is communicated and presented reliably in terms of basic information
technology.
3 LITERATURE
Prescribed book
There is ONE prescribed book for this module, namely:
Joubert Applied
C Law for Police Officials 5th ed (2018) Juta
(x)
, How to use the prescribed book
We wish to emphasise that you are expected to read more than merely the study guide
and that you must also consult the prescribed book on each specific topic. You may find
that you do not fully understand certain aspects of a particular topic as it is set out in
the study guide, and it is then imperative that you consult the prescribed textbook on
the matter.
For the purposes of the examination you should, however, use the study guide as your
primary source, except in respect of those topics that are not discussed in the study guide
but only in the prescribed book. Take note that certain topics that you must know for the
examination are not discussed in the study guide, but only in the prescribed book. We
will point these out to you. A serious warning, though: Do not think that because these
crimes are not discussed in the study guide, you can afford to ignore them (i.e., not study
them from the prescribed book). You should know the topics to be studied only from the
prescribed book just as well as the topics that are discussed in the study guide, because
you may get questions in the examination from both sources.
When studying a topic from the prescribed book, you need take note only of the text
itself, that is, you need not also consult, study or read the footnotes as well, unless we
draw your attention to one or more of the footnotes.
4 STUDY METHOD
Presentation of study material in study guide
You will notice that the material in the study guide is subdivided into 12 learning units. A
learning unit is a unit or part of the syllabus that deals with a certain topic. You can divide
the time you have at your disposal for studying this module into 12-time units and then
study one learning unit for each of these time units.
Contents of learning units
Every learning unit is usually subdivided into:
1. a table of contents of the material discussed in the learning unit
2. a list of learning outcomes you should keep in mind when studying the learning unit
3. a discussion of the topic covered in the learning unit
4. a concise summary of the most important elements of the topic
5. a number of “test yourself” questions
Apart from the above, you may find diagrams setting out certain components of the
material, as well as illustrations of certain situations or sets of facts dealt with in the
discussions.
The short list of learning outcomes mentioned under (2) above contains some of the
most important objectives you should keep in mind when studying a particular learning
unit. However, it is important to remember that, for the examination, you must know
(xi) CRW2603/1
