Limpopo’s own named Statistician-General and Head of Stats SA

Giyani born mathematical statistician Risenga Maluleke was appointed Statistician-General and Head of Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on 1 November.
Maluleke takes over from Pali Lehotla whose tenure expired in October after 17 years at the helm of the organisation.
Maluleke has served within Stats SA for 20 years, having joined the service as a manager at Limpopo provincial office in 1997.
His extensive experience in the organisation is backed by his qualifications, a BSc in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Limpopo and an MPhil in Urban and Regional Science from Stellenbosch University. He has also completed Senior Executive Programmes with Wits and the Harvard School of Business. He was previously employed in the statistics division of the former Government of Gazankulu and later moved on to the Limpopo Government.
A statement released by Stats SA last Wednesday indicated that the appointment of Maluleke came at a time when Stats SA was putting together plans to conduct the country’s fourth population count since the dawn of democracy, Census 2021, the biggest undertaking by a statistical agency that produces official data.
“Among the products that the organisation produces are the Community Survey (CS), the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Consumer Price Index (CPI), General Household Survey (GHS), Victims of Crime Survey. Statistics South Africa is one of the organisations in the country that is reputable for its professional ethics, responsible for the production of population and economic data used for policy and decision making.
It is a highly technical organisation led by a myriad of well-qualified professionals in the disciplines that the organisation produces data on,” the statement read.
Maluleke was quoted to have said: “The task before me is immense as I inherit an organisation that is renowned for its efficiency in delivering data to improve the lives of our people. One can only take the organisation to greater heights and deliver on its mandate.”

Story: Herbert Rachuene
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