SA's third post-apartheid population and housing census kicks off on 10 October, when about 156 000 enumerators will go into the field for 21 days, until 31 October.
Despite there being an extended gap of 10 years between this census and the last one, the process remains paper-based.
Enumerators will visit the homes of citizens, armed with pencils and questionnaire forms, according to census communications manager Trevor Oosterwyk.
The completed questionnaires will then be scanned to transfer the data to electronic format and stored in the central database. Oosterwyk says IT systems have been upgraded for the 2011 census, and specifically the logistical management system, so that previous glitches can be avoided and people working for the project can be paid on time.
The census will provide government planners, policy-makers and administrators with data on which to base their social and economic development plans and programmes.
Credential check
Amidst concerns over strangers entering citizens' homes, Statistics SA has set up a toll-free number that citizens can call to verify census enumerators' credentials. The call centre can be contacted on 0800 110 248. The operating hours are from 7h00 to 22h00.
“As an additional security measure, all census 2011 identity cards - which must be carried by fieldworkers - include a hologram-protected photograph of the enumerator.”
Oosterwyk explains that the IDs carried by fieldworkers will have numbers on them and these numbers can be given to the call centre agents to verify an enumerator's credentials.
He adds that the enumerators have also been given posters of themselves to put up in the areas they will be covering so people will be expecting that specific person.
Statistician-general Pali Lehohla also urged police to ensure public confidence and peace of mind for households during census 2011 enumeration.
“I would like to appeal to the police to monitor census 2011 cars and to secure public confidence in census around issues of security,” said Lehohla this week.
Stats SA also met with the United Nations Population Fund heads of foreign missions this week to discuss issues around safety and security, and enumeration of foreign nationals.
Few headaches
Oosterwyk says there were a few challenges in preparing for this year's census.
“One can expect that an exercise of this magnitude will have a few headaches.
“The timing of things doesn't always work perfectly and the recruitment process didn't go perfectly. We didn't get as many as we wanted.”
He explained that there was an abundance of applicants but management wanted people from within specific communities to cover their areas.
Census 2011 is the biggest census ever conducted in SA.
Stats SA says a population census is the most complex and massive exercise a national statistical office undertakes.
“It requires mapping the entire country, mobilising and training a huge number of enumerators, conducting a comprehensive publicity campaign, canvassing all households to participate, collecting individual information, compiling vast amounts of completed questionnaires, and analysing and disseminating the data.”
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