Everybody will be counted

The Census questionnaire will take 45 minutes to complete – and everybody has to be counted or they may be taken to court and counted anyway.
ALL Joburg households will be counted as part the nationwide population enumeration drive scheduled to start on Monday, 10 October and run until the end of the month.

FieldworkersFieldworkers and enumerators will have identification cardsStatistician-General Pali Lehohla has allayed security fears regarding the enumerators – numbering about 120 000 – hired to conduct the count, noting that security measures have been put in place. He also had told police to monitor Census vehicles and fieldworkers.

To make sure they are dealing with legitimate counters, people can ask for an enumerators’ or fieldworkers’ identification card, which should have a three-dimensional photograph. They will also be wearing yellow Census T-shirts and bibs, and their credentials can be verified on the Census hotline on 0800 110 248.

Lehohla has urged residents countrywide to co-operate with enumerators. “All people living in South Africa have an obligation to be counted. Any person refusing to do so obstructs the law of the land and could be hauled before court and they will still be counted,” he said.

This is the third national census since 1994 and is designed to provide authorities with accurate demographic and socio-economic data. This will allow the government to ensure evidence-based planning and equity in the distribution of services and the allocation of state incentives.

In the last census, more than a million households were counted in Joburg and a population of 3,2 million people was recorded.

Estimates are that there are 14,5 million households in the country; however, about 20 million Census questionnaires have been printed just in case. Each questionnaire is 14 pages long and has 75 questions; the interview to complete it should take no longer than 45 minutes per household.

Briefing parliament a month ago about South Africa’s readiness to conduct the Census, Planning Minister Trevor Manuel said municipalities needed accurate data from the Census without omission or duplication in order to fulfil their constitutional mandate.

The Census was also held to collect data on housing characteristics and services so that municipalities could improve the quality of services they rendered, he said.

Statistics South Africa said a population census was significant in that it provided a numerical profile of the country. The Statistics Act of 1999 guarantees strict confidentiality of all information collected.

Manuel said fieldworkers would visit every dwelling in the country.

For more information on the census, telephone the toll free hotline on 0800 110 248, alternatively visit the Census 2011 website.