NTSIEPE MASOETSA
The results of Census 2011 have been described as “vuvuzela statistics” by economist Mike Schussler who is a researcher and founder of Economists.co.za. He was addressing staff and students at the University of Free State in Bloemfontein on the topic ‘The Meaning of Census Data’. Schussler said it is not true that whites are earning six times more than blacks in this country. “What they have released is household income not per capita income,” he said.
He believes the results emphasise the wrong things. “It has not emphasised the wealth that South Africans have built up over the years and I think that is the very important asset for this country to have. Whilst we can look at many poor people in this country – on the income side that’s very true but on the assets side we have far fewer poor people,” said Schussler.
The Census results are important for every government to plan effectively for the future of its population. Presenting the Census 2011 results to the Free State premier Ace Magashule, statistician-general Pali Lehohla said the provincial population has grown marginally by about 45 000 people or 1.4%. He added that more people have access to clean water and electricity while there is notable reduction in the number of people who use bucket toilets.
In reaction Magashule was happy about what government has done to improve the lives of its people. “Indeed we have moved forward since the dark days of apartheid – you can see what apartheid has done to a black person but now we are almost there,” said Magashule.
However, Schussler said the launch and stories that came out of the Census results were “vuvuzela politics”. “Criticism that some people have had has enabled government to look a bit better at the good news that is lying inside the Census,” said Schussler.
