Speaking at the official launch of Census 2011 held in Polokwane in Limpopo this week, Premier Cassel Mathale called on South Africans to recognise the importance and the role of statistics in the country.
“Census 2011 will reveal the picture of who we are as people in this country. It does not matter if you are poor or rich, you must be counted. Every person in South Africa must be counted during the census process,” Mathale said.
In his speech, the premier urged civil society organisations, the farming community, business, faith and religious organisations to encourage people to participate in the census next year.
“We are making a humbly plea to those who live in high-walled or gated areas to open their doors to Statistics South Africa officials. Farmers and the farming community must also be available to be counted and no person should be denied the opportunity to be counted. Census is about everyone regardless of a person’s status in the society,” Mathale told delegates.
Premier Mathale’s delegation comprised of MECs, Members of the Provincial Legislature and government officials in the province. Mayors, councillors, members of civil society and business also attended the event.
Chairperson of the Transvaal Agricultural Union Jan Viljoen said although security on farms was still a concern, farmers in the province was willing to cooperate and assist Statistics South Africa to collect the Census 2011 data.
“Commercial farmers fully endorse Census 2011. We need to know how we have performed and this cannot be done without Statistics South Africa providing us with the data,” Viljoen said.
Kefiloe Masiteng, Deputy Director-General of population and social statistics, said census was a national effort that the country should be proud of. She urged communities to take ownership of the process and to participate in Census 2011, which is set down for October 2011.
“I am confident that we are ready to conduct the census. We will increase our publicity to ensure the presence of census the brand across the country. Census is a voluntary process that is meant for this country,” Masiteng said.
Source: Statistics South Africa
