Stats SA grapples with remote census

As SA grapples with the spread of Covid-19, the official population count could, for the first time, be conducted remotely as a response measure against the pandemic, says a Times Select report. Statistics SA spokesperson Lesedi Dibakwane said the pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to the planning and management of the census project while creating an opportunity to embrace technology. Stats SA will conduct the census in 2021, but a pilot project is set to take place at the height of the outbreak, which will provide a blueprint for ‘census during a pandemic’. ‘We are going to test remote collection modes to ensure that we align our resources to respond to the need for social distancing in the midst of the pandemic,’ Dibakwane said. ‘The collection modes to be tested are online self-enumeration, namely Computer Assisted Web Interview, and telephonic assisted interview, namely Computer Assisted Telephone Interview, in preparation for the pilot planned for October this year while the main count is planned for October 2021.’ A census postponement was not on the cards since collected data remained the only update of key items on demographics and services every decade.