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 selected areas will be visited, irrespective of whether they are registered or not. When you register, you can select if you want to complete the Pilot Census questionnaire online by yourself (Computer Assisted Web Interview –CAWI); to be contacted via telephone and complete the questionnaire telephonically (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview – CATI); or to be visited by a fieldworker to complete the form in person (Computer Assisted Personal Interview- CAPI).

The link for online registration is:https://getcounted.statssa.gov.za/#!/home . As this website is data-free, registering and completing the questionnaire will not use your data or airtime. Respondents may contact the census call centre toll-free number on 0800 110 248 for assistance.

Please note:

• COVID-19 protocols will be observed when Stats SA fieldworkers visit households/institutions to complete the Pilot Census questionnaire.
• Households and institutions in the selected areas that opted to complete the Pilot Census questionnaire online will receive a link to complete it from 3 – 8 July 2021. Any households that have not completed the Pilot Census Questionnaire by 8 July 2021 will be visited by a fieldworker to complete the form.
• Households and institutions in the selected areas that opted to fill the Pilot Census questionnaire by telephone will receive a call from a Stats SA call center agent from 3 – 28 July 2021.
• The option of completing the Pilot Census online (CAWI) and by telephone (CATI) will not be available for households and institutions that register after 30 June 2021. They will get a visit from a Stats SA fieldworker from 4 to 28 July 2021 to complete the Pilot Census questionnaire.

The Pilot Census is a dress rehearsal for the main census and all systems and processes that will be used in the main census will be tested. This will assist the organisation to allocate the required resources and refine methodologies to ensure that the census is delivered efficiently and effectively.

All households and institutions in the selected areas must register to ensure that they are counted in the Pilot Census. Participating in the Pilot Census will lead to effective planning and contribute towards the delivery of a population count that leaves no one behind.

The date for the main census will be announced in due course.

The maps below show the areas selected for the Pilot Census:

Eastern Cape

Free-State

Gauteng

KwaZulu-Natal

Limpopo

Mpumalanga

Northern Cape

North-West

Western Cape