Media Release GENDER SERIES VOLUME II: Education, 2004-2014 The purpose of this report was to assess the country’s progress towards achieving improved access to and quality of education through a gender lens. The general analyses in the report covered trends over a 10 year period (2004 and 2014). The period of data analysis largely depended   read more »

Statistician-General for South Africa, Mr Pali Lehohla, was pleasantly surprised when Professor Samuel Codjoe handed him an award from the Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana. The citation read as follows: Pali Jobo Lehohla: From you humble beginnings at Hermon Mission of the District of Mafeteng in Lesotho, you studied for a Bachelor’s   read more »

In honour of cake day on 26 November, we are taking a fresh look at the latest price data of this popular dessert. Stats SA published a story on the price of cake in July 2015, we now look at how prices have changed since then. Interestingly, there hasn’t been any big changes. The average   read more »

The South African government expenditure on education increased by R20 billion between 2012/13 and 2013/14, based on data from Stats SA’s recent Financial statistics of consolidated general government release. Expenditure over time Total expenditure on education increased by R80 billion over a five-year period, from R169 billion in 2009/10 to R249 billion1 in 2013/14, an   read more »

African Statistics Day is celebrated every year on November 18. This celebration of African statistics aims to increase public awareness of the important role that statistics plays in all aspects of social and economic life in Africa and in preserving the environment in which people live. The theme for this year’s event is “Better data   read more »

Escalating operating costs have dampened profit growth since the 2009 recession, according to Stats SA’s latest Annual financial statistics report. Profits in the private sector have grown, but not as fast as turnover. Turnover totalled R7 767 billion in 2014, rising by 56,2% from R4 972 billion in 2008. Rising costs have eaten away at turnover, resulting   read more »

With South Africa in the grip of drought, the role of local municipalities to provide clean water, maintain infrastructure, and reduce wastage has become more important than ever. Recent data on staff vacancies show which municipalities are struggling to fill funded posts in their water management departments. Municipalities in Free State seem to be struggling   read more »

Challenges and opportunities in advancing human endeavor through SDGs: Guarding against the tyranny of technology and numerology Pali Lehohla Statistician-General South Africa 5th OECD World Forum on Statistics, Knowledge and Policy Guadalajara Mexico 13-15 October 2015 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) present the last opportunity for the universe to mend its ways and advance human   read more »

With the announcement of a zero fee increase for higher education institutions next year, the focus is now on where the money will be sourced to finance the expected shortfall. Recent data provide an indication of which universities are most dependent on tuition fees, and as a result might be most vulnerable to a shortfall.   read more »

Draft  CONCEPT NOTE 11TH AFRICA SYMPOSIUM ON STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT   “Promoting Use of Information and Communication Technology Solutions in Improving Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Africa”   1.       Introduction The year 2015 has unleashed a number of activities aimed at making Africa Agenda 2063 more practical. Among these are the adoption of its first   read more »