Statistics South Africa says the safety of citizens from COVID-19 and possible criminal elements will be a top priority when over 160 field workers are deployed to various areas of the country for the 2022 Census.
The fourth population tally will run from February 3-28. Household registration for the country’s first digital Census began last week and will end on Friday.
Stats SA spokesperson Trevor Oosterwyk is urging people to make use of the online options in a bid to limit physical contact.
Oosterwyk says, “They will have a black bag with green writing on it saying Census 22 and not Census 2011 or Census 2021. They will have a black cap with the same words on, a green T-shirt and they will have an ID document.”
“A further method, you can call the call centre number and provide ID number and that ID number is linked to our call centre and on our website. Lastly, you do not have to let people into your house, make an arrangement with that person to meet you in the local cafe, at your gate, or church or at your lawyers,” he adds.
Slow uptake
Last month, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke decried the slow uptake of registration by households.
R3.2 billion is what it will cost to carry out the Census and the results will be released in 12 months.
In the video below, Maluleke launches the Census:
Ntiyiso Consulting’s Miyelani Holeni says a Census is crucial because it gives an understanding of what makes up the economy with regards to the people:
