BL Premium reports that more than one in five vacancies are unfilled at SA’s official data collection agency, Stats SA, potentially putting the credibility of national statistics used by policymakers and business leaders at risk.  

“The biggest effect is on the work of data collection in that it has an adverse effect on the quality of the products the organisation delivers,” statistician-general Risenga Maluleke told MPs on Friday, adding that work programme targets had either been dropped or reprioritised.  This situation is likely to deteriorate as Stats SA prepares for the 2021 national census.  Some 60% of the posts for top management were vacant at the end of March, while about 52% of senior management posts were vacant.  Some of these have been filled by acting managers.  Though 36% of the total number of vacancies are in the administration department, there are gaps in crucial units such as economic statistics (16%), population and social statistics (25%) and statistical support and informatics (25%).  Questioned by MPs about the reasons for people leaving Stats SA, Maluleke said it was mainly for higher salaries and to retire.  It has not been possible to replace the retirees.  Stats SA, like other government departments, faces budget cuts, but Maluleke has not yet been informed of the size of the budget cut decided by the Treasury.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

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