Question NW764 to the Minister in the Presidency
14 November 2024 - NW764
Letlape, Dr TKS to ask the Minister in the Presidency
Given that the disastrous census, as widely acknowledged, represents a significant failure, what (a) was the final total cost of the census, (b) were the specific reasons for the undercounting of so many South Africans and (c)(i) enumeration strategies were employed and (ii) are the reasons that they ultimately failed?
Reply:
Although the census faced challenges and setbacks, it cannot be deemed a ‘disastrous’ census or a significant failure. The absence of census data would have been far more detrimental, leaving a gap in the data needed for planning and resource allocation through 2031. The Census results have been validated as fit for purpose by the South African Statistics Council. South Africa is among the countries that conducted their census in the 2020 round, while nearly 2 billion people worldwide were not counted. The key census results have provided critical insights and updates on various indicators, offering valuable input for the development agenda.
a) The total cost for the census from 2018 to 2023, covering all preparatory work, testing, piloting, and fieldwork extensions, amounted to R4 billion. This figure includes an R800 million overspend during the census year, attributed to multiple household visits and extended collection periods in provinces like the Western Cape for the 2022/23 collection year.
Part of this overspend was mitigated by the donation of 139,000 tablets, worth R597 million, to schools in the Provincial Departments of Education, where they are being used as digital workbooks and textbooks. Additionally, R1.7 billion of the total cost went towards paying fieldworkers, contributing positively to the economy. Importantly, the per capita cost of the 2022 census was only 3.6% higher than that of the 2011 census.
b) Several factors contributed to the undercount. Key reasons include refusals and cases where households were contacted but no family member was available for an interview. The aftereffects of COVID-19 left many feeling disheartened or dissatisfied, and low trust in the government, along with widespread fear of crime, further impacted participation. This apathy mirrors what was seen in the recent national elections. It's essential to raise public awareness so people understand the negative impact of not participating on both themselves and their communities. Additionally, some individuals intended to complete the process online but never followed through, despite multiple reminders.
c) (i) The census was initially intended to rely on a single collection method: Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI). However, when it became evident that people preferred to avoid contact with field workers, two additional methods were introduced: Computer Assisted Telephonic Interviewing (CATI) and web-based completion (CAWI). Despite these adaptive management strategies, the public did not widely embrace or use these alternative methods, even though the platforms were zero-rated. As a result, collection numbers from these methods remained low.
(ii) Past census experiences show that the trusted reliable collection method, reaching every part of the country, has been face-to-face interviewing. However, the introduction of telephonic and web-based data collection was intended to address public concerns, ranging from crime to health issues. People generally take time to adapt to change, and these methods continue to be tested and used in our annual surveys. It's important to note that in economic statistics, telephonic data collection is commonly used to gather information from businesses, though data collectors initially visit to establish rapport. During the census, our call centre agents attempted to reach the public, but the response was largely unfavourable, with many calls being dropped. Despite web-based and telephonic methods not achieving the desired participation levels in the census, the investment in developing agile, homegrown systems will enhance the data ecosystem for years to come.
Risenga Maluleke
Statistician-General
Date: 09 September 2024
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Hon. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, MP
Minister in the Presidency
Date: