PREMIER'S REMARKS
Programme Director Yugen Naidoo
Members of the Mpumalanga Provincial Executive and
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Members of the National Council of Provinces
His worship the mayor Isaiah Khoza
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen,
When I heard that Statistics South Africa would be conducting Census 2001, it reminded me of these three statisticians who went out hunting.
They came across a large deer. The first statistician fired, but missed by a meter to the left. The second statistician fired but also missed, by a meter to the right. The third statistician didn't fire but instead shouted in triumph: “On the average we got it'
But believe me when I say that I have full confidence in Statistics South Africa. I know that because over the years we have gotten accustomed to using their very reliable data they have collected on a number of issues.
Census '96 provided us with valuable, detailed, all-inclusive information about our people which we used, and are still using to achieve our shared goal of accelerating change.
The results told us we were, and still are, a two-nation South Africa – one affluent and prosperous with easy access to amenities and infrastructure. And another living in abject poverty and squalor. In other words the results told us where we were and were we were going. How do we know where we are going if we do not know where we are?
The census results stressed that we were a society, which had enormous basic needs to meet. Basic needs like access to clean water; electricity, telephones or schooling.
I can confidently say that the results provide us with benchmarks against which our performance, as government and nation, would be measured year by year. Many of you may ask, but why must we be counted?
A population and housing census provides government, business, foreign investors and individuals with the information they need to plan for the future and ultimately build and develop South Africa.
Census 2001 will provide measurement for improvement since 1996. For instance in 1996 Mpumalanga had a population of 2,8 million or 25 persons per squared kilometer. There were more females than males. The age group 16 to 35 represented 35,7 percent of the total population.
Four comma one percent of the population was 65 years and older. 40,5 percent of the people 15 years and older were illiterate. Amongst those aged 15 to 65 years 32.percent were unemployed. Also it is interesting to note that SiSiswati was spoken by 30 percent of the people followed by IsiZulu being spoken by 25,4 percent. IsiNdebele was spoken by 12,55 percent.
Did you know that 56 percent of households lived in a house on a separate stand, 17,9 percent in traditional dwellings and 15,6 percent in informal dwellings or shacks?
And did you know that in 1996 25,8 percent of households used a pit latrine as a toilet facility?
Thirty-six comma five percent of households had piped water in the dwelling. And 37,7 percent had refuse removed by a local authority at least once a week.
It is important that we have this data so that we can plan knowing how many people we need to supply with water-borne sewerage and so forth.
Things have definitely changed. But we need to now how far we have been able to create a better life for our people and how much more needed to be done.
Census 2001 will provide that information. Census 2001 takes place from 10 October to 31 October. October 9 is Census Night – the whole of South Africa to make a note of who sleeps in their house that night.
The results will not only gives a picture of the entire country but also give vital information on a province, town and city. But then for Census 2001 to provide an accurate picture everyone must be counted. A census under any circumstances is a mammoth undertaking.
It's easy counting the people we can see. The challenge is counting the people that don't want to be noticed. We need to ensure that all individuals are given the dignity of being counted. We all must stand and be counted.
Families and children must be counted in 2001. Transients and migrants must be counted in 2001. People of all races, religions, and ethnicities must be counted in 2001. Citizens and immigrants must be counted in 2001. And in Mpumalanga it all starts here. By building partnerships between government, communities and leaders such as some of you here, we can put a face to the census.
I would like to commend Minster Trevor Manuel, Statistics South Africa and Baird Communications for this initiative. Maybe you would be advised to look into forming local complete count committee partnerships between municipalities, community-based organizations, religious organizations, women organization, the youth etc.
These partnerships are vital for a successful count. We all have the ability to affect the census. I look forward to working with all of your to ensure a fair and accurate census. Now, I want everyone to know something: There is nothing to fear in filling out a Census form. Information on the Census form is completely confidential. Let me repeat that: the information is completely confidential.
We are here today to encourage everyone to fill out their census form. Everyone should complete their census form. We need to ensure everyone that their information will be confidential, regardless of their legal status.
You will help build better school for our children, better roads for our communities, and improve the quality of health services. Remember—you count! Everyone counts. Please participate in the Census 2001.
Now, since every person in Mpumalanga and in the country counts, every South African ought to be counted. We need a census that uses most modern scientific methods to do that.
Our new immigrants must be part of our one country. They must help in building up our new economy. We have a responsibility to make them welcome here, and they have a responsibility to enter the mainstream of South African life.
A hundred years from tonight, another Premier will stand in this place and will look back on a 21 st century shaped in so many ways by the decisions we make here today. So let it be said of us then that we were thinking not only of our time, but also of their time; that we reached as high as our ideas.
That is why as Premier of the province of the Rising Sun, together with the men and women I lead in the executive, I wish to declare before all of you here that I take ownership of Census 2001. And In so doing encourage each and every person in the province to be counted.
Ensure that you are counted.
I thank you.