The next population and housing census, Census 2022, is scheduled to start from 3 February to March 2022. The Census Night will be on 2 February 2022 where fieldworkers will enumerate the homeless, the transient population, those in communal living quarters such as hotels, B&Bs, hospitals, correctional centres, old age homes etc. A census is the total count of a population whereby all people – including children, babies, homeless people and foreign nationals within the borders of a country – are counted. A census collects data about a country’s socio-economic dynamics – people’s living conditions, access to basic services, income, etc.
Stats SA is mandated by the Statistics Act (Act No. 6 of 1999) to collect data for official statistics and to conduct a census. In terms of section 17 of the Act, information collected on individuals and their households remains confidential. The Act also makes it obligatory to provide data to Stats SA fieldworkers administering questionnaires for producing official statistics.
Stats SA has conducted three censuses since 1994: in 1996, 2001 and 2011. The data collected during a census is used for planning, policy formulation and evidence-based decision-making. The results of a Census are also the basis for budget allocations across local, provincial and national government. They also provide municipalities with small area data for use in their Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).
As part of quality assessment, Stats SA conducts an independent survey called the Post-enumeration Survey (PES). The PES 2022 will be conducted only in selected areas shortly after the completion of Census 2022 data collection. Data collection will be conducted from March to April 2022. The PES 2022 is important as it is used to measure the accuracy and reach of the Census. The PES 2022 will also assist in identifying the number of households and persons erroneously included, missed or counted more than once during the Census 2022.
Census 2022 will be the first digital population count and will give the respondents the option to complete the census questionnaire with or without the assistance of a census fieldworker. It will further allow the respondents to access the census questionnaire remotely, thus enabling Stats SA to reach populations in all settlements. The multi-modal approach to data collection, includes:
Stats SA fieldworkers will be trained on COVID-19 safety protocols as the Deptartment of Health’s guidelines.
In preparation for the main census, Stats SA conducted the necessary testing since 2018, which is characteristic to processes that precede a population count, and also recently concluded the Pilot Census. This was to ensure that the multi-modal approach to data collection can be implemented efficiently and that the necessary plans are put in place.
The Census 2021 Mini-test mode for data collection was the Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) as the main mode of data collection; Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) was available and used only for respondents who registered with fieldworkers to use it for completing the questionnaire. The Census 2021 Trial mode of data collection was CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview and CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview). The Pilot Census was conducted in selected areas around the country in July 2021 whereby all modes of data collection were applied to prepare for Census 2022.
Census Mini-Test :
Project Director, Calvin Molongoana
&
Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke
As part of the phases towards the full count of the population in 2021, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) conducted the Census Mini Test Phase 1 from 9 October to 6 November 2019 in selected areas around the country
Stats SA will recruit fieldworkers across the country through the online recruitment database where prospective candidates can apply for available contract work that includes collecting data from respondents and other activities involved in the pre-enumeration, enumeration and post-enumeration phases. The advert can be found here For a guide on how to register on the HR recruitment database click here For Frequently Asked Questions click here For a guide on how to upload proof of address click here I have registered on the HR database, so what now? click here Pamphlet Approval Document click here
| Name | LANDLINE | CELL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanessa Wiener | 021 481 5528 | 082 805 6277 | VanessaM@statssa.gov.za |
| Name | LANDLINE | CELL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linda Sixhaso | 082 902 6130 | LindaS@statssa.gov.za |
| Name | LANDLINE | CELL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonakele Phuzi | 053 802 6800 | 079 510 5004 | BonakeleP@statssa.gov.za |
| Name | LANDLINE | CELL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Themba Guma | 051 412 7503 | 082 888 2259 | thembagu@statssa.gov.za |
| Name | LANDLINE | CELL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Dlamini | 031 360 0671 | 079 513 7219 | GabrielD@statssa.gov.za |
| Name | LANDLINE | CELL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tebogo Bankoes | 018 384 2879 | 018 384 2877/8/9 | TebogoBa@statssa.gov.za |
| Name | LANDLINE | CELL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judas Ngobeni | 011 781 3506 | 082 907 4950 | JudasN@statssa.gov.za |
| Name | LANDLINE | CELL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oscar Ndou | 013 762 0000 | 082 907 4950 | Oscarn@statssa.gov.za |
| Name | LANDLINE | CELL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kgaogelo Mathekga | 015 295 3300 | 082 888 2450 | Kgaogelom@statssa.gov.za |
 Census data is used for planning, monitoring and evaluation |
Post-enumeration Survey (PES) is conducted only in selected areas. |
|
South Africa conducts a de facto census, i.e. people are counted where they were on Census night (02 February 2022) |
Censuses attempt to give a complete count of the number of people and households in the country |
| Related surveys |
| Community Survey 2016 | Census 2011 | Community Survey 2007 | Census 2001 |
