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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - The final deadline for Census 2022 is 31 May.According to a statement from the executive mayor of Mossel Bay, Alderman Dirk Kotzé, Mossel Bay's low level of participation in comparison with other towns in the district, is of great concern.
In a social media post, Kotzé mentioned one of the issues causing the lack of participation as the difficulty of accessing gated estates.
Since last week, a renewed, concerted effort has been made by councillors, urging residents to commit to the extended deadline and submit their details to Census 2022.
Access issues
Kotzé implored residents in gated complexes to:
- Complete the questionnaire online at either getcounted.statssa.gov.za or on the shortcode - https://bit.ly/3NcOeym.
- Contact Lindy Langenhoven of StatsSA, who has issued a list of estates where access issues are of concern, on 082 902 6181 for an appointment with the census staff should there be some friends or neighbours who require help with the questionnaire.
- Contact the management of the resort where you live and ask that census staff be allowed to come to help you, either at the resort's group facility or at home.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde last week welcomed the extension of Census 2022 and urged residents to get counted so that the Western Cape gets its fair share of support from national government.
"In budget terms, we stand to lose R9.7 billion, or more than 16% of our provincial equitable share, if only 70% of residents get counted.
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This would shave R2.6 billion in funding off our Health budget and R4.2 billion off our Education budget, with smaller departments also suffering losses. In short, service delivery in the Western Cape will suffer a major blow across the board if residents do not make sure they are counted," Winde said last week.
In an interview with television anchor and former Mossel Bay resident, Gerrie Pretorius last week, Mossel Bay municipal manager Colin Puren allayed fears regarding the Census questions. Puren assured the questionnaire was simply designed to create an accurate demographic of the local population.
Participation is vital
In a social media post this week, Alderman Kotzé summarised why participation is so important.
The population statistics are used to determine our number of schools, they determine our hospital and clinic services, they determine the availability of police stations and police officers and they inform budget allocation for roads, water, and electricity bulk infrastructure.
"Currently, Mossel Bay has a shortage of schools, because the Census 2011 counted only 90 000 people in town.
"Mossel Bay is presently a popular semigration destination. The 2011 statistics have to be improved to portray a more accurate figure.
A national census is only done every ten years. Please participate so that we may arrive at a more credible figure that will inform all planning for the next ten years."
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