Media release                                                                                              30 June 2021 Stats SA Suspends Field Visits Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has suspend in-person data collection following new COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions. The national statistical agency had resumed limited field visits across the country in April this year after pulling out in March 2020. “All face-to-face data collection methods are   read more »

With government spending in the spotlight, new data from Stats SA provide an update on the extent and pattern of national government expenditure. The South African national government spent R1,73 trillion in 2019/20, according to the latest Financial statistics of national government report. This is 12% higher than the R1,54 trillion recorded in 2018/19. This   read more »

Jobs in the formal non-agricultural sector decreased by 9 000 in the first quarter of 2021, bringing the total number of persons employed in the formal non-agricultural sector in South Africa to approximately 9,64 million. Year-on-year figures from the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q1:2021) survey, released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), show that formal   read more »

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) will conduct a Pilot Census in selected areas across the country to prepare for the upcoming census. Registration for households/institutions to be counted in the Pilot Census closes on 30 June 2021. Data collection for the Pilot Census is from 3 – 28 July 2021. All households and institutions in   read more »

Annual headline inflation climbed above the 4,5% midpoint of the South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy target range, accelerating to 5,2% in May from 4,4% in April. This is the highest reading since November 2018 when the rate was also 5,2%. The 5,2% annual change in May comes off a low base recorded in May   read more »

In December 2020, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released an innovative online mapping tool showing which communities may be more adversely affected by COVID-19 outbreaks. The South African Covid-19 Vulnerability Index (VIndex) was developed as a way of using the smallest area population data available and incorporating dimensions and indicators to statistically reflect localised risk   read more »

The statistics published in this month’s issue of Mbalo Brief are mostly from March 2021, which marks a year since the start of the lockdown restrictions in South Africa as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the tourism industry is still struggling, partly due to the decrease in the number of international visitors, it   read more »

The total number of deaths that occurred in South Africa and were processed by Stats SA in 2018, were 454 014. According to Mortality and causes of death in South Africa: Findings from death notification for 2018 which was released recently by Statistics South Africa, the highest number of deaths that occurred in 2018 were among   read more »

Media release                                                                                              11 June 2021 Statistician-General tests positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) The Statistician-General of South Africa, Mr Risenga Maluleke, has tested positive for COVID-19. He is experiencing mild symptoms and is recuperating at home. Following the COVID-19 regulations, all close contacts of the Statistician-General are being informed and advised to quarantine. The SG urges all   read more »

The South African economy grew by 1,1% in the first quarter of 2021 (January–March), translating into an annualised growth rate of 4,6%.1 This follows a revised 1,4% (annualised: 5,8%) rise in real gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2020. The finance, mining and trade industries were the main drivers of output on   read more »