Issued by: Ministry for Safety and Security
I today want to reassure the public that thorough security measures have been put into place to ensure the safety of enumerators, respondents and the information during Census which begins tomorrow, October 10, 1996.
A security network utilising the Joint Security Staff (JSS) of the SAPS and SANDF has been established to meet safety and security needs which have been identified by the Central Statistical Service (CSS).
The Census security plan encompasses measures aimed at protecting the safety of enumerators in the field, Census materials, depots, information as well as the population at large.
The JSS has security plans for all the nine provinces. From October 10 to 31, the SAPS will assist to secure the safety of enumerators in areas which are volatile and will provide escorts to enumerators in potential trouble spots.
The SANDF will assist the CSS if necessary, with transportation of materials between Census offices and remote rural areas as well as census documents from Census offices to processing centres.
The CSS will have access to SAPS and SANDF communications networks during the population count. These measures will make sure that we are prepared for any eventuality. I hope that the South African population will commit themselves to making the country's first democratic Census a major success.
I call upon communities to allow enumerators to carry out their task unhindered. At the same time I urge responsible behaviour on the part of enumerators.
People are conscious as to who they allow on their property but I appeal to the population to make themselves aware of how Census '96 enumerators will be identified. If necessary the public should make use of the toll-free number on the enumerator's identity card to verify their legitimacy.
9 October 1996