The enumeration or counting phase of Census 2011 involves around 120 000 enumerators taking to the streets of South Africa to meet with all the people that inhabit South Africa’s borders.
The exchange means answering a 14-page questionnaire that covers topics from age and income to education and employment. Conducted by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the country’s official statistical agency, the information will be collated and aggregated to provide official statistics that allow the state and private sector to identify issues and plan programmes, among other things.
Due to its nationwide scale and the level of contact that needs to be made during Census 2011, security and confidentiality are priority concerns for everyone involved, including the public.
Census confidentiality and the law
“All statistical work and information gathering conducted by Stats SA falls under the Statistics Act, 1999 (Act No. 6 of 1999) which clearly defines the question of confidentiality,” says Selby Mashiyi, team leader: legal services at Stats SA. Section 17 of the Act, titled ‘Confidentiality and disclosure’, starts with: “Despite any other law, no return or other information collected by Statistics South Africa for the purpose of official or other statistics that relates to an individual, a household, an organ of state, a business, or any other organisation, may, subject to sub- sections (2) and (3), be disclosed to any person.”
Subsection (2) refers to the information being disclosed to the statistician-general of Stats SA and other officers within Stats SA who have taken the oath of confidentiality. “Because they are dealing with official statistics, every employee signs a confidentiality undertaking and this includes the enumerators,” says Mashiyi. “It is part of a standard annexure to contracts.” Subsection (2) allows for dis- closure to the person from whom the information was collected or a representative if there is prior written consent regarding this. Information can also be disclosed where it is “already available to the public from the organ of state, business or other organisation concerned”. Subsection (3) says that when the statistician-general discloses information to an organ of state, he must be “satisfied that the confidentiality of that information or data will not be impaired”. “Government bodies cannot access individual records,” says Mashiyi.
Further subsections deal with the fact that any information gathered for statistical purposes is not admissible as evidence in legal proceedings — except for the purposes of criminal proceedings in terms of the Statistics Act. Further to that, results and analysis of statistical information collected in terms of the Act cannot be disseminated in a way that allows a specific individual, business or organisation to be identified unless consent was given. “All information gathered is for statistical use only and is presented in an aggregated format, as numbers and tables, with such large numbers across an entire population that there is a guarantee of anonymity. There is no way in which information can be traced back to an individual,” says Mashiyi.
Section 18 of the Act covers offences and penalties. “If information is disclosed to others, outside of statistical purposes, it is considered an offence and becomes a court case,” says Mashiyi. The outcome can result in six months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to R10 000 (or higher) or both.Mashiyi says that people tend to think that this is a civil lawsuit but it’s a criminal offence ending, potentially, in a criminal record. Other actions that are defined as offences include seeking information when not authorised to, asking unauthorised questions, taking any payment other than the agreed Stats SA remuneration, and impersonating an officer of Stats SA in order to obtain information. Of interest is that offences also deal with failing to answer questions or furnishing false information. “Since the information is of national importance, you are obliged to participate under Section 16 of the Act,” says Mashiyi.
The full act can be read at www.statssa.gov.za/about_statssa/statistics_act.asp. A repeated question is why individuals are asked for their name and surname in the census questionnaire. “This information is not entered into the computer when data is captured. There are a number of quality checks needed to ensure consistency of information. For example, a post-enumeration survey involves response match checking with a sample group and identifying information is needed for this,” says Mashiyi.
Safety priorities
“There are a number of key areas Stats SA has covered to ensure safety,” says Mandla Zembe, the national security coordinator for Census 2011. Firstly, all census workers will be wearing the official Census 2011-branded yellow clothing and carrying an identification card. “The latter contains a photo of the field worker installed with a hologram feature that prevents removal, change or manipulation,” says Zembe. “If anyone tries to manipulate the photo it destroys the hologram feature.” Hologram software was sourced from abroad and customised for Census 2011.
From a safety and procedure perspective, Zembe says that there is other legislation in operation beyond the Statistics Act. This includes The Protection of Information Act, the National Strategic Intelligence Act, the Promotion of Access to Information Act and the National Archives Act. “The minimum information security standards policy document defines the screening of individuals, document security, the disposal and storage of information and the classification of information. We follow this in terms of procedures,” says Zembe.
Of note is that all enumerators are run through a security check. Zembe says that there are strict processes regarding access control and the authorisation of people, even before collected information reaches the head office of Stats SA. Stats SA will be working in collaboration with the national coordination committee which includes the South Africa police force, South African National Defence Force , State Security Agency and crime intelligence. “All these stakeholders are involved with regards to the safety of personnel, information and materials,” says Zembe.
The ‘Know your enumerator’ campaign involves posters with the photos and contact details of the specific enumerator in a given area. Enumerators will also make themselves available at public meeting points for introduction and there will be notifications through community radio and newspapers. Nick Grobbelaar, who is part of the Census 2011 geography work stream, says that each field- worker will have 10 posters with a photo, name and telephone number. The posters are generic and the photo and details will be added on appointment of a fieldworker.
Beyond the posters and call centre, a further enumerator identification check — a website — has been added. It will contain the details of enumerators, their field coordinators and their supervisors. “We have looked at as many areas as possible to ensure safety and confidentiality,” says Zembe. “With the enumerators taking to the streets, we hope that South Africa opens their gates and makes this a successful Census 2011.”
Beware of misinformation
“Confidentiality and security are a priority for Stats SA and Census 2011. However, a number of security companies and newspapers are offering inaccurate information regarding these matters,” says Sivuyile Mangxamba, team leader: media relations for Stats SA. He refers, in particular, to messages that are going out saying that people only need to say how many people there are in the household and that they don’t have to answer the question on income. “This is incorrect. People have a legal obligation to respond to all the questions on the census questionnaire,” says Mangxamba.
To keep safe, note the following:
Census workers will be wearing Census-2011 branded clothing and will carry an identification tag that has a hologram photo of the individual. It will be clear if the photo has been tampered with.
- There will be ‘Know your enumerator’ posters with the photo and contact details of the specific census worker in your area.
- People need to answer only the questions on the Census 2011 questionnaire. It is illegal and can result in a criminal case if the census worker asks for any other information. You will never be asked your identity number, credit card information or banking details. The census only requires response to an income range.
- It is illegal for census workers to ask for a donation or any money and this can also result in a criminal case with a fine or jail time or both.
- Census workers may contact you by phone, post or in person but will not do so via email.
- If you have any concerns, contact the toll-free call centre at 0800 110 248.
People will be able to contact the call centre toll free on 0800 110 248 if they have questions about the enumerators or the census questionnaire.
This article originally appeared in the Mail & Guardian newspaper as an advertorial supplement