CENSUS 2021 PREPARATION: THE GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION FRAME UPDATE

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) will conduct the fourth democratic census in 2021. The base for any census is an updated list of structures (the Geospatial Information Frame, or GIF), which is sub-divided into workloads called Enumeration Areas and used to inform field staff of the dwellings they should visit during the data collection period.

This process was known as ‘listing’. Fieldworkers (FWs) were issued with listing books that had a map of the area they were to unpack. The FWs would then walk the area and note the number and type of structures on a particular erf/yard/stand. The information on these listing books was captured onto an electronic database and used to demarcate enumerator areas for the census.

Stats SA is undergoing a digital transformation and moving away from paper. While the FWs who are involved in the GIF update are using tablets instead of paper maps, the basic objective remains the same – to ensure that all structures in the country are on the GIF so that the census data collection can be done without under- or overcount.

During the GIF Update, FWs visit all structures across the country and create electronic inventory lists noting the structures and their uses to determine where dwellings are found. For example, an industrial complex might have a caretaker who lives on the grounds. It is important that the structures on this complex are unpacked so that the residential dwelling can be identified.

In the same way, a residential dwelling could have a number of backyard structures that serve as separate dwellings. If these additional dwellings are not unpacked during GIF, the allocation of fieldwork will be incorrect, and the enumerator will not have enough time to collect demographic and other data from all the dwellings in the area he/she has been allocated.

We are appealing to all South Africans to please allow Stats SA’s FW’s onto their premises so that they have access to and can record all structures. It is only by having an accurate GIF that we can ensure that everyone is counted in the upcoming census.

Stats SA FW’s will wear Stats SA-branded bibs, carry Stats SA ID cards, and have introduction letters. If you need to verify that these are indeed Stats SA staff members, you can contact your local district or provincial office.