Stats SA extends mop-up period
Officials in charge of the census say South Africa's socio-dynamics have changed considerably since the previous census was conducted in 2011.
Stats SA is appealing to all who live within the borders of South Africa, irrespective of their status to be counted through its field workers or the use of an online questionnaire.
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said it had reopened its online self-enumeration until the end of April 2022.
“The country’s socio-economic dynamics have changed a lot since the last census was conducted in 2011,” said project director Calvin Molongoana.
“The more people who participate, the more accurate the data,” said Molongoana.
He said it is critical that every household participates in the census, and makes sure that they get counted.
“Households that are not counted can go to getcounted.statssa.gov.za and fill in their name, surname, and cellphone number. After successfully registering, an OTP will be shared which will give access to the census questionnaire.”
Still not counted in #SACensus2022? Don’t wait any longer. Simply go to https://t.co/S0z3dM5pVz, fill in your name, surname and cellphone number and complete the census questionnaire online. It’s quick & easy. Help build a better SA. More info here: https://t.co/SQRsxq5smk pic.twitter.com/IcFGFudwM0
— Stats SA (@StatsSA) April 20, 2022
Stats SA said once the questionnaire was completed, households would get a reference number which they were encouraged to keep in a safe place for when they were visited by a census fieldworker, or during the post-enumeration survey, which is a quality check for the census project.
It said the Protection of Personal Information Act (Act 4 of 2013) would ensure that the national statistics agency of South Africa kept all data collected confidential.
“Data on an individual cannot be shared with any other agency; any data released by Stats SA is aggregated and confidential to ensure anonymity.”
It said the extension of the census mop-up period on data collection came as challenges, particularly in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, were encountered after their work was interrupted by the recent extreme weather conditions.
The extreme weather conditions in KZN has caused flooding in most areas. In order to ensure the safety of #SACensus2022 field staff, data collection in KZN was suspended on 11 April 2022. Data collection will resume on Tuesday 19 April 2022.#StatsSA #GetCounted pic.twitter.com/stlzCcunma
— Stats SA (@StatsSA) April 13, 2022
“All provinces will be able to take advantage of the extended period to ensure that they count as many households as possible.”
In March, Stats SA announced that a census mop-up phase will be taking place until April 14, 2022.
The census 2022 came to an end on March 20, where just more than 12 million households, from an estimated 17.4 million households, had been counted.
Statistician-general Risenga Maluleke said during the mop-up phase, field workers would visit all incomplete enumeration areas to count all households that were not counted during the first phase of data collection.
“Field workers will go out in groups to enumerate areas that have been identified as unsafe.”
Maluleke said participation in the census was mandatory under the Statistics Act 6 of 1999.
“We appeal to everyone who has not been counted to use this opportunity to exercise their civic duty to participate in the census,” said Maluleke said.
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