IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

In October 2023 Stats SA released the initial results of the Population Census 2022. The Population Census of 2022 was the first digital census in South Africa, which came with unique data management opportunities and required tight strategic planning, implementation, and monitoring. As indicated in the Council statement at the launch of the Census, COVID-19 profoundly impacted the planning and execution of the Census. It led to changes in the enumeration methods, caused delays and challenges, and influenced data collection efforts. It also created challenges for enumerators, given the understandable anxieties in the population. Census 2022 also took place after hard-fought local elections, unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, and major flooding, all of which created an extremely challenging terrain in which to carry out the Census.

Both the Census 2022 as well as the evaluation thereof, followed and fully adhered to various international statistical standards. When the Statistics Council made its ‘fit for purpose’ pronouncement on the Census 2022, it based its decision on inter alia the findings of various prominent national and international experts who had full access to all relevant materials and data to assess the process and the data from the Census and the post-enumeration survey (PES). As part of this pronouncement, Council also indicated that there were certain data aspects that should not be released before further work was done, including mortality statistics, income data, and others. These were specified in the Council statement read at the Census launch. We therefore support the subsequent, recent decision of the SG: Statistics SA, not to release that data. We will also organize, lead, and wish to encourage further and open discussion of the census results with all stakeholders as Stats SA explores innovative ways of complementing the data points that are not publishable with some of its other statistical products. This is especially critical given higher-than-ideal observed levels of undercount. All of the above is common practice in population data and is practiced internationally.

As Council, we welcome any constructive criticism of statistics and methodology. We take such criticisms as areas where attention needs to be directed to see if there is any validity to the points being raised. Our door on this matter, like with any of the other statistical products of Stats SA, remains open. In fact, this enhances all of our processes and adds to the rigor of the data produced. On this matter, the various points of criticism received so far have been interrogated and thoroughly discussed with an open mind. We take note of the media coverage attendant on Census 2022, but caution against criticism that is not based on engagement with the data. With transparency in mind, Stats SA has released the 10% sample of the census data for anyone who wishes to mine the data and understand its composition and what impact the adjustment factors are having on any variable.

The Statistics Council wants to assure South Africa and all wider stakeholders that the process followed by Stats SA in conducting the Population Census, including adjusting for the undercount, has indeed, yet again, produced credible data, notwithstanding a very tight budget. We continue to applaud Stats SA for constantly working on the process of quality-assuring all of its statistical products, including Census 2022, according to the highest international data quality standards prior to its release. We also work with Stats SA as well as with various key stakeholders to continually reflect and learn lessons from and implement any required measures, processes or methods to improve subsequent statistical products.

Ends/

Dr Nompumelelo Mbele
Chairperson: SA Statistics Council