South Africa statistician defends census data in immunisation dispute
South Africa's Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke, has defended the accuracy of the 2022 census data against claims from the Department of Health. The ministry had blamed 'inaccurate' statistical data for its declaration of an immunisation crisis, a claim Maluleke rejected as unfounded.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights a breakdown in communication between government departments and raises questions about the reliability of national data used for public health policy.
--> South Africa’s Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke rejected the Department of Health’s accusations that the population data produced by Stats SA are inaccurate. The ministry said its declaration of an immunisation crisis was based on inaccurate data from the statistical service, TimesLIVE reports .
Maluleke disagreed with the department’s claims. He said careful methods are used in preparing the 2022 census data and mid-year population estimates to ensure they are reliable for users.
According to the 2022 census, South Africa’s population was 62 million. According to Stats SA’s latest mid-year estimates, the figure is 63.5 million.
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