Census draws to a close

The great 2011 census ends today, and if you haven’t been counted yet you need to phone the call centre and ask for an enumerator to be sent to you.
CENSUS 2011 ends today and the statistician-general’s office is asking households that have not yet been counted to contact the call centre on 0800 110 248 to ask for an enumerator to visit their homes.

A census fieldworker at workA census fieldworker at workAfter the closing date a follow-up operation will ensure that every household that was missed is counted.

All residents were legally obliged to answer all questions in the census and if they refused to co-operate, the statistician-general reserved the right to institute legal action against them, said Trevor Oosterwyk, the spokesperson for the census.

Oosterwyk could not quantify how many people had been counted in Johannesburg just yet; however, he said details about the outcome of the census would be revealed at a press briefing today.

The 2011 nationwide population count started on 10 October, with the homeless and babies born after midnight being the first to be counted. On that day, Statistics South Africa said it had planned to count at least five million people in Johannesburg. In the last census, more than a million households were counted in Joburg and a population of 3,2 million was recorded.

Oosterwyk said the census deadline of 31 October would not be extended. “We are not extending the date because a majority of citizens have already been counted.”

People are not asked their identity numbers, credit card, banking or financial information. Questions are asked on demographics, including sex, age, language, migration, general health, parental survival, income, education, employment, fertility, access to services and mortality. It also includes questions on whether the household owns a refrigerator, stove, vacuum cleaner, washing machine, computer, satellite dish, DVD player, car, TV, radio, landline, cellphone and post box.

Pali Lehohla, the statistician-general, said the population count was significant in that it would provide a numerical profile of the country.

It aims to collect data on housing characteristics and services so that municipalities can improve the quality of services they render. This will allow the government to ensure evidence-based planning and equity in the distribution of services and the allocation of state incentives. It will also be used to improve access to the provision of education, healthcare, housing, transport and other services.

Data
“A census is the only source for community level data on issues such as migration patterns, education, people with disabilities, employment and unemployment, fertility, mortality and service delivery, all of which are critical for planning,” said Oosterwyk.

planningA census is vital for future planningPeople can contact the census call centre if they need help with completing the questionnaire. Questionnaires have to be returned to the fieldworkers as they account for all the questionnaires allocated to them.

Stats SA said people were not obliged to let enumerators into their homes. The interview could be conducted through a security gate, in one’s yard or at a public place.

The 2011 Census was planned and conducted by Stats SA, the national statistics agency of South Africa. The Statistics Act guarantees the confidentiality of all individual information collected during a census.

“The Act provides for a fine of up to R10 000, imprisonment of up to six months or both for fieldworkers found guilty of contravening the Act and citizens who refuse to co-operate with census personnel,” Oosterwyk said.

Population
According to Stats SA’s mid-year population estimates, there were about 50,59 million people living in South Africa at the start of the census. That figure covered all residents of the country and was based on the latest available information. Stats SA said estimations could change as new data became available.

The previous census recorded about 45 million people living in the country in 2001. Approximately 52 percent, about 26,07 million people, was female. Gauteng had the largest share of the South African population, with approximately 11,3 million people.

The infant mortality rate for 2011 is estimated at 37,9 percent and the total number of people living with HIV is estimated at 5,38 million. An estimated 16,6 percent of the adult population aged between 15 and 49 years is estimated to be HIV-positive.

Results of Census 2011 will be published in November 2013. For more information, telephone the toll free hotline on 0800 110 248 or 012 310 8600, visit the Census 2011 website or email census2011@statssa.gov.za or info@statssa.gov.za.