Major losses might be a reality for the Western Cape if residents don’t complete Census 2022.
Statistics South Africa extended the deadline for the Census in the Western Cape due to the slow uptake from residents.
Premier Alan Winde says R9.7 billion could be cut from the Western Cape budget if residents don’t come forward and complete the Census. He added that the province could lose funding equivalent to 1615 doctors or 5981 nurses, and 9300 teachers if only 70% of residents get counted.
Winde says: “In money terms, we stand to lose R9.7 billion, or over 16% of our provincial equitable share, if only 70% of residents get counted. This would shave R2.6 billion in funding off our health budget and R4.2 billion off our education budget, with smaller departments also suffering losses. In short, service delivery in the Western Cape will suffer a major blow across the board if residents do not make sure they are counted.”
The data from the census is used by the government and particularly National Treasury to allocate state resources to departments, municipalities and provincial governments.
Winde says: “While we have seen increases in the number of persons counted, the numbers remain too low. To put it simply, if we only manage to count 70% of the population, the available spending per person would be reduced by more than R1 300 per person per annum in the provincial equitable share.”
The Census in the Western Cape has been extended to 14 May 2022.
You can complete the Census questionnaire online: HERE. For queries, you can contact the Census call centre at 0800 110 248 or email: census2022@statssa.gov.za.
