Minister Ntshavheni Calls for Data-Driven Policy in SA, Presents Stats SA 2024/25 Budget

Pledging commitment to data-driven development, Hon. Ms. Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency, presented the 2024/25 Budget Vote 14 for Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on July 11, 2024, in Cape Town. The Minister's address resonated with a compelling mix of reflection on South Africa's 30-year democracy and the future horizons envisioned in the National Development Plan (NDP).

Marking three decades since the apartheid era, Minister Ntshavheni underscored the progress noted in the latest Census 2022 Results, highlighting the role of Stats SA in painting a statistical picture of the nation's advancements and persisting challenges. With a nod to the Census 2022's digital transformation, she spotlighted the first-ever results of the digital census and the upcoming publication of thematic reports, which will significantly impact policy and decision-making.

Accompanied by the youthful Deputy Minister, Honourable Nonceba Mhlauli, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni emphasized inter-generational leadership and the continuous journey towards harmonious development. The juxtaposition of robust economic growth and the prevailing burden of unemployment, particularly among the youth, set the tone for her assertion that actionable statistics replace guesswork in formulating government strategy.

The Minister's forward-looking policy approach is evident in the integration of modern technology within Stats SA's operations and the foundational role of innovative data in shaping efficient and effective governance. Advancing this mission, the Minister announced legislative developments with the Statistics Amendment Bill awaiting Presidential assent and the introduction of a ground-breaking Residential Property Price Index.

Addressing poverty, inequality, and unemployment remains high on the government's agenda, as illustrated by the completion of data collection for the Income and Expenditure survey—a critical measure of the nation's poverty situation. Furthermore, the strategic pivot to a continuous population survey intimates an era of more dynamic, responsive statistical reporting within the country's district development model.

The 2024/25 Work Programme, flagged as the culminating effort for implementing the 5-year strategic plan launched in 2020, not only embodies Stats SA's resilience through crises like COVID-19 but also heralds a digital transformation that leans on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the metaverse in national census activities.

Minister Ntshavheni appealed to parliament for support of the R2.65 billion 2024/25 Stats SA budget, evoking a spirit of collaboration and innovation to enhance the country's statistical system. In safeguarding the integrity of official statistics within South Africa's development framework, the Minister positioned Stats SA as a crucial, globally respected institution shaping a data-empowered future.

She concluded by expressing gratitude to the committees, the leadership of Stats SA, and the South African Statistics Council, inviting all South Africans to engage with statistical insights and partake in the country's transformative journey.