DA Demands Census 2022 Do-Over as StatsSA Admits Data Flaws

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has issued an urgent call for a redo of the South Africa Census 2022, following Statistics South Africa's (StatsSA) admission of significant data quality issues. This statement came after StatsSA conceded that some sections of the collected data did not meet necessary quality levels for use in official planning or by the public.

Despite a hefty financial outlay reaching R3.2 billion, StatsSA acknowledged significant inaccuracies within key sociodemographic categories, including income, employment, mortality, and fertility. The surprising admissions have sparked deep concerns regarding the accuracy and reliability of the census data, which is critical for national socio-economic strategising and resource allocation.

The DA went on record to express their strong disapproval, classifying the situation as a "national scandal" and stressing the importance of census accuracy. The party argued that with such significant flaws, it is imperative for the country to prioritize the accuracy of data upon which all major national plans and budgets are based.

In their call to action, the DA has insisted on a census retake, underlining that minor corrections cannot justify the compromised data integrity on such a vast scale. The party is seeking clarity from StatsSA on how it plans to mitigate this issue and to ensure future data collection processes are sound and incorruptible.

Members of the DA have also highlighted that systemic issues within StatsSA may have contributed to the data problems, criticising the organisation for deviating from established scientific protocols and the apparent lack of transparency throughout the process.

ActionSA MP Alan Beesley added his voice to the criticism but cautioned that any decision for a re-run should be carefully considered. Beesley emphasised the necessity of first understanding and resolving data collection failures before committing to redoing the census.

With this contentious issue coming to the forefront, it is clear that the DA, alongside other critical voices, is pushing for immediate and tangible solutions to restore the credibility of South Africa's statistical data and, by extension, the integrity of its governance and policy-making.