BusinessLive reports that Statistics SA is making use of online surveys during the Covid-19 lockdown in a bid to continue generating the data needed by the government.  

It is also looking at this method to prepare for the national census in October 2021.  As soon as the lockdown was declared it withdrew its data collectors from the field to prevent the spread of infection and sought alternative, technological means of gathering information.  It has produced online survey results on the effect of the pandemic on business turnover and the ability of firms to survive the lockdown; unemployment and income; an essential products consumer price index; the effect of the pandemic on health behaviour and perceptions about Covid-19 and on education; and the accessibility of medicines.  A survey was also conducted on the extent of interprovincial movements during the lockdown.  Statistician-general Risenga Maluleke told MPs in a briefing on Friday that:  “One of the things we cannot deny is that technology will take the centre front as we go beyond Covid-19,” Maluleke said.  Even though Stats SA has faced financial challenges — its council threatened to resign a few months ago if its budget was not increased — like all other departments it is having to propose cuts to the Treasury as part of the government’s efforts to find R130bn in funding for its Covid-19 response.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive

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