Census: Stats SA undercounts by 14.6% despite assurances, bigger budget
DESPITE previous assurances from Statistics South Africa that undercounting for the 2011 census would be much lower than previously recorded due to an increased budget of R3.4bn, the agency on Tuesday announced a 14.6% undercounting.While this figure is lower than the 17% recorded in 2001, it is much higher than international standards. Statistician-general Pali Lehohla promised last year that the double-digit undercount would be "a thing of the past". According to Stats South Africa, in most developed countries undercounting is less than 1%, while in underdeveloped countries it is mainly in single digits.Mr Lehohla had acknowledged that Stats South Africa had "lost the plot" with the 17% undercount in 2001, with one in six people not counted.The 2011 census budget was three times larger than the 2001 census, which was larger than the 1996 census that had a 9.6% undercount.Speaking at the release of the 2011 census on Tuesday, Statistics Council chairman Howard Gabriels said an omis...
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