Agb Voorsitter, agb Minister Manuel, agb voorsitter van die komitee, agb lede, dames en here, die aanbreek van politieke demokrasie in 1994 en die eise van die oorgangsperiode het die tekortkominge van die staat se beskikbare statistiese data skerp na vore gebring. Uit die eise van die Heropbou- en Ontwikkelingsprogram het dit duidelik geblyk dat meer omvattende statistiese inligting nodig sou wees om die nuwe ANC-geleide regering in staat te stel om te beplan en waarteen die prestasie van sy eie beleid, programme en projekte gemeet kon word. Die toentertydse Sentrale Statistiekediens was nie in staat om die gehalte statistiek te lewer wat vir die opbou van die nuwe samelewing nodig was nie. Die ommekeer in die toedrag van sake was beide kompleks en tydrowend, en die eerste tekens van sukses het eers na 2003 sigbaar geword. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Ms P E ADAMS: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister Manuel, hon chairperson of the committee, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, the dawn of political democracy in 1994 and the demands of the transition period acutely highlighted the shortcomings of the state's available statistical data. It was clearly evident from the demands of the Reconstruction and Development Programme that more comprehensive statistical information would be needed by the new ANC-led government to enable them to plan and against which the performance of their own policy, programmes and projects could be measured. The then Central Statistical Services were not capable of delivering the standard of statistics that was required for the construction of the new society. The turnabout in this state of affairs was both complex and time- consuming, and the first signs of success only became visible after 2003.]
The ANC believes in evidence-based policy development and for that reason the developmental state needs reliable and up-to-date statistics for the day-to-day strategic decisions. The then Minister of Finance, Minister Manuel, in 2003 challenged Statistics SA and the SA Statistical Association, Sasa, to consciously pay attention to the fact that South Africa did not have enough numerically competent professionals. The response to this challenge has been steadily addressed over the years and today Statistics SA is a leader on the continent, a hub of competence from which other agencies draw important experience and information.
Sedert 2003-04 is algaande meer samehangende, akkurate, relevante en betroubare amptelike statistiek gelewer. Hierdie vlak is bereik deur die toepassing van internasionaal aanvaarde standaarde, definisies en klassifikasies en deur die skepping van vennootskappe en die verbreding van menslike hulpbronne en kapasiteit. Die verbeterings blyk duidelik uit die sleutelprojekte wat oor die afgelope jare in reaksie op verbruikersvereistes geloods is.
Begrip van die basislyndata waaruit statistiek voortgebring word, is baie belangrik. Statistiek SA se doel is om statistiese inligting te vertolk op 'n wyse wat terselftertyd deursigtige meting van die staat se prestasies en aanspreeklikheid bevorder. Statistiek SA dra by tot Suid-Afrika se ontwikkelingsdoelwitte met akkurate en gehalte statistiek op ekonomiese, demografiese, sosiale en omgewingsvlak. Die statistiek van hoogstaande gehalte word kragtens internasionaal aanvaarde praktyke deur 'n bekwame en goed gekwalifiseerde kader amptenare geproduseer. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Since 2003-04 gradually more coherent, accurate, relevant and reliable official statistics have been delivered. This level had been achieved by applying internationally accepted standards, definitions and classifications and through the creation of partnerships and by increasing human resources and capacity. The improvements clearly stem from the key projects that were launched over the past years in reaction to consumers' demands.
It is very important to understand the baseline data from which statistics are produced. Statistics SA's goal is to interpret statistical information in a manner which simultaneously promotes the transparent measuring of the state's achievements as well as accountability. Statistics SA contributes to South Africa's development goals by providing accurate statistics and statistics of quality on economic, demographic, social and environmental levels. The high-quality statistics are produced in accordance with internationally accepted practices by a cadre of competent and well- qualified officials.]
Building human capacity through a skills development strategy is designed to address the quality aspects of human resources to produce, disseminate and make use of official statistical information. Statistics SA has compiled a comprehensive statistical skills development framework to improve statistical literacy and engender an enthusiasm for numbers. Over the medium term, it will focus on improving the foundation of statistical literacy at school level, establishing partnerships with tertiary institutions, building capacity within Statistics SA, and participating in statistical development initiatives in the Southern African Development Community, SADC.
In 2005 het Statistiek SA sy interne opleidingsprogram begin om die vaardighede en kennis van gekwalifiseerde vakleerlinge op te skerp deur deelname in 'n gestruktureerde opleidingsprogram. Die opleidingsprogram van 12 maande is ontwikkel vir universiteitstudente en werklose graduandi in dissiplines soos statistiek, ekonomie, demografie, rekenaarwetenskap en kwantitatiewe sosiologie. Die grootste uitdaging is om 'n kwalitatiewe verbetering in ons wetenskap- en wiskundige uitkomste te verseker, aangesien dit 'n voorvereiste vir sukses in 'n loopbaan in statistiek is.
Mense-, data-, kennis- en organisasiebestuur is die grondslag van Statistiek SA se volhoubaarheid en sukses. Daarom moet daar in die bates bel word. Vaardigheid, deskundigheid en vakkundigheid is bates wat benodig word om suksesvol aan die staat en ander rolspelers se statistiese vereistes te voldoen. Mense is derhalwe Statistiek SA se belangrikste bate, en in hierdie opsig moet daar met besighede en ander staatsdepartemente om die beskikbaarheid van professionele statistici en wiskundiges meegeding word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Statistics SA started its internal training programme in 2005 to hone the skills and knowledge of qualified apprentices through participation in a structured training programme. The 12-month training programme was developed for university students and unemployed graduates in disciplines such as statistics, economics, demography, computer science and quantitative sociology. The biggest challenge is to ensure a qualitative improvement in our science and mathematics results, considering that this is a prerequisite for success in a career in statistics. The management of people, data and knowledge, as well as organisational management, are the foundation of Statistics SA's sustainability and success. We should therefore invest in these assets. Proficiency, expertise and professional knowledge are assets that are needed to successfully fulfil the statistical requirements of the state and other role-players. People are therefore Statistics SA's most important asset, and in this regard it has to compete with businesses and other state departments for the availability of professional statisticians and mathematicians.]
More than ever, there is now a stronger demand for statistics to provide a basis for measuring and monitoring development goals and targets and to establish multidata indicators which reflect progress and change. The changing requirements for statistics demand that quality and relevance should guide the transformation of statistics in the public domain. This transformation is aimed at making statistics fit for use for decision- making, planning, monitoring and measuring.
Monitoring and measuring progress in the development of a country requires statistical data of a consistent and reliable quality. It needs a sound statistical system based on sound infrastructure, the integrity of the production environment and technical support in the production of statistics.
Statistics SA has identified a set of integrated and harmonised competencies which are central to the way the organisation and its employees work. The distinct competencies that are required involve knowledge and skills required in the fields of statistics, mathematics, sociology and geography to produce official statistics; the people, information technology and systems central to the production of statistical information; the ability of organisational processes and systems to collect statistical information on a large scale from various sources in the field; the ability to understand and respond to the political environment and related pressures; and the ability to manage a statistical environment, including planning, communication, public relations and governance.
The strategic focus and relevance of Statistics SA in the future will depend on trust and public confidence in the statistical information that is generated; the role of the state in giving strategic guidance and influencing the national research agenda; and sustained statistical capacity and partnerships in the development and sharing of best practices in statistics.
In 2010 Statistics SA adopted a new strategic direction, transforming the country's statistical system to address statistical information requirements, quality and skills gaps. A key feature of Statistics SA pending in the medium term will be on the capacity-building programme to improve the current levels of statistical skills and address the shortage of specialised skills in the department. To attract new and retain highly qualified personnel, Statistics SA receives an additional allocation of R75,9 million over the medium term for improved conditions of service.
Abantu sesona sixhobo sibalulekileyo. [People are the most important resource.]
People are our best assets. The ANC supports the Statistics SA Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]