A R600-million community survey to collect demographic, geographic, social and economic data was launched by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel on Monday.
”This allows the government to provide services and to plan so that we can understand the trends and patterns of our people,” Manuel said, encouraging the people polled to share information about their households and themselves.
The first of its kind in South Africa, the survey will be the largest after the census, which was last conducted in 2001.
It will be undertaken from February 7 to February 8 by 5 800 field-workers — wearing yellow shirts and blue caps — who will visit 284 000 households in 17 089 areas.
The 75 questions to be asked will deal with, among other things, migration, mortality and economic working patterns.
Manuel said there is a need to establish the existing trends.
Statistics SA hopes to publish the results by October.
Statistician General Pali Lehohla said mechanisms are in place for anyone who refuses to take part in the survey.
”If needs be, we will take a legal recourse to make sure approached people participate in the survey,” he said. — Sapa