02 July 2025

Expanding the statistical outputs of Stats SA to focus on emerging dimensions in society

The realisation of  our constitutional and developmental objectives are dependent on our ability as a society to respond to our concrete reality in its various dimensions. Statistics South Africa, plays a critical role in providing the country with scientific statistical data to support decision making for all social partners, be it government, business, labour, civil society, international organisations and the people. The statistical outputs of Stats SA provide empirical evidence that enables government and other social partners to plan on the basis of credible evidence. Without credible data, the attainment of government objectives and other objectives can result to failure.

Statistics South Africa, has demonstrated its agility to adopt technological innovations and implement a digital transformation programme to increase the capabilities of the entity to produce data in a cost effective way as demonstrated in the Census 2022, which relative to the previous census saved over a billion rand, which is commendable.

We welcome the multiple projects on digital transformation by Stats SA as contained in the Strategic Plan and the Annual Performance Plan. Through this digital innovation and adoption, Stats SA needs to consider improving its website interface and develop digital tools which creates a better user experience. This will ensure the vast majority of South Africans find statistical data accessible and increase the usage of Statistical outputs. These enhancements must enable a government official in a municipality or government entity to be able to extract data that is related to their municipal area or sector at a local level. It must enable, learners in high school and students in higher education to easily source data for educational and research purposes. This also applies for small business and various economic players. Innovation and development is enabled by access to robust data and Stats SA should champion accessibility and increased usage of statistical data.

We welcome the focus on producing statistics that a are focused on the District Development Model. This is a critical enabler to enhance government efforts to plan effectively through the DDM.

Honourable members, society and nature are not stagnate but are always on a constant motion of change. Climate change is one matter that has become a key priority globally as it impacts weather patterns which result to disasters and in other instances drought which impact food production and social life. Our experience as a country is quite tragic, particularly for the coastal provinces such as Kwa-Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape which have experienced multiple floods with the recent one in Eastern Cape leading to over 100 people losing their lives.

We pay our condolences to all the families that have lost their loved once, an thank all social partners working with the government and communities have supported affected households

Another societal changing development is the rapid innovation within the digital sector which is a growing economic sector. Digital innovation is also having an impact of society politically, socially and economically.

These are just two areas which require enhanced data to ensure various social partners respond to the climate change risks and monitor and understand patterns of usage of digital innovation. We believe that Statistics South Africa should expand its statistical outputs to provide more detail of elements of climate change and digital technology. Other dimensions and emerging fields should also be considered.

Honourable Members, we are in a period with higher levels of migration and illegal immigration patterns which impact various aspects of government policy and planning. The equitable share distribution of the division of revenue is also premised on population considerations. The emergence of informal settlements and the population growth of communities is fast outpacing our periodic population statistics at a micro level, for example rural to urban movement within districts. We must enhanced population related statistics in a period that is cognisant of the rapid migration patterns which impact sectors such as education and health and bulk infrastructure development planning.

We recognise the vast technical indicators of the Work Programme 2025/26 book

We support the implementation of the Statistics South Africa Amended Act which requires organs of the state to develop statistical units. We welcome this development as it lays a firm foundation to improve the quality of performance information reporting by state organs. The Auditor General has highlighted the high levels of poor quality of information to ascertain reported performance.  An effective data system enhances decision making and the ability of the Executive and Parliament and the people to hold government accountable thus will enhance the performance of government and oversight by the legislative sector.

The Presidency should support Statistics South Africa to effect the prioritisation of the development of statistical units by state organs.

The statistic that relate to our progress of social transformation continue to reflect progress and constrains. This include, inequality, and the various dimensions of poverty and a crisis of unemployment that impact women and the youth and many South Africans. We have expanded access to basic services but indictors also reflect a growing demand for reliable basic services.

The ANC supports the position of the Committee that the Statistics South Africa, should receive additional allocation in upcoming financial years, this will further place it in the edge of the statistical data ecosystem in the country and its global competitiveness. The reduction of the vacancy rate of the entity should be addressed in the short term as this impacts the effectiveness of the institution.

Statistics South Africa, is also a key contributor to scientific skills development, and when we are in this period of digitisation and big data, Stats SA should also serve as an incubation to develop our scarce skills particularly providing training and employment for the youth, women and persons with disabilities. The skills produced by the public entity has benefited the private sector and international organisations continue to recruit from the urgency. We must train and retain skills but also contribute to the overall skills development of the country.

The ANC  has prioritised the monitoring of the performance of government to ensure intended outcomes and impact are ultimately realised and the work of Statistics South Africa is fundamental for society in this regard. The ANC, in Parliament will continue to support the work that is done by the public servants in the organisation. We will also play our robust oversight focusing on the implementation of the strategic and annual plans.

The allocated budget though not enough, will enhance the capacity and capabilities of Statistics South Africa. The rapid innovation in technology requires us to rethink the use of our resources and review our systems and models,  which can create opportunities to optimise the current existing resources for higher impact.

The ANC support the Budget Vote 14 on Statistics South Africa.