Statistician-General Pali Lehohla Thursday opened a case of non-compliance against three households for refusing to participate in the Census.
The case was opened today ((Thursday)) at the Brooklyn Police Station after three respondents refused to participate in the Census.
The law allows the Statistician-General under section 16 of the Statistics Act (No. 6 of 1999) to act against people refusing to participate in the population and housing Census.
“Legally, Section 16 of the Statistics Act (Act 6 of 1999) obliges a respondent to answer all questions put to them by an officer of Statistics South Africa,” said the Statistician-General.
He added: “Section 17 of the Statistics Act guarantees the confidentiality of your information. The data we collect is used for statistical purposes only and no-one, not even the President of South Africa, can access data on an individual level.”
“We have opened a case against three respondents in Waterkloof for refusing to participate in Census,” said Lehohla.
Stats SA only deliver a compliance letter and press charges against those who refuse to participate in a census as a last resort.
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