Issued by: The Central Statistical Service
PROVINCE'S MUST PROVIDE STRONG LEADERSHIP FOR FUTURE GROWTH SAYS PHOSA
Mpumalanga Premier, Mr Matthews Phosa, says South Africa's nine provincial governments have a responsibility to provide "strong and dedicated leadership" which will allow them to plan and build for the benefit of all South Africans.
Speaking at the Mpumalanga launch of the Census 1996 publicity campaign - "Count Us In" - at the Nelspruit Civic Centre today, Mr Phosa said the provinces could contribute to creating a future of growth and prosperity by identifying where they have to improve and develop their resources and determine means to overcome their problems.
"That is why we need reliable and accurate statistics, which we believe Census '96 will provide," Phosa said. "Many serious issues face each and every one of the country's nine provinces. We all have to deal with unemployment and poverty, education, health care and the provision of basic services such as water, electricity and sanitation.
"We must find ways of addressing the housing shortage and determine where we need to build hospitals, clinics, community centres and improve basic infrastructure, such as roads. We need to know where we must improve our population's capabilities to ensure maximum effectiveness, and we have to make a combined effort to guarantee the growth of the country's economy.
"Having reliable and up-to-date statistics will assist greatly in this task and ensure that we create a social structure which benefits all communities and is effective in creating a better standard of living for the majority of South Africans," Phosa said.
The Central Statistical Service's Chief Director: Demography and Census '96 Co-ordinator, Mr Pali Lehohla, described the Census as a special and momentous event in the history of the new South Africa.
"The most obvious and profound reason for this census to be memorable is that it is the first in a post-apartheid South Africa and has to provide baseline data for planning for the RDP, the Growth and Development Strategy and Vision 2020," he said.
"In short, it lays the foundation for development planning for the many years ahead of us.
"The CSS views the census as one of the three national events of the decade. If the national and local government elections were the political bricks, Census '96 is the information mortar which will bind together the Government of National Unity which we are building.
"The census will play an essential and expanding role in providing the information necessary for the constant monitoring of RDP goals," Mr Lehohla said.
But, Mr Lehohla stressed that Census 1996 can only succeed with the commitment, co-operation and support of all communities across South Africa.
Premier Phosa agreed. He said that the in addition to meeting the needs of the RDP, the Census would provide yet another opportunity for all South Africans to contribute to the nation building process which has swept South Africa over the past few years.
"South Africa's transition to democracy has been hailed as the political success story of the decade and South Africans have won the respect of the international community. With that battle won, we now need to focus on internal growth and development.
"It is every citizen's responsibility to take part in the Census and to make their contribution to the Census count. The time has come to for all of us to take the opportunity to build from within, to have a say in the future of our country and to make an important contribution towards assisting government in realising its goals," Mr Phosa said.
Issued by Baird's on behalf of the Central Statistical Service Enquiries: Central Statistical Service Mr Pali Lehohla - (012) 310-8299 Mrs Theresa Pretorius - (012) 310-8158
Baird's Communication Mr Anthony Mackaiser Miss Michelle Joubert - (011) 886-2440
Essential Communications Tenji Dhlepu - (011) 787-0524