Chairperson, the ACDP shares in congratulating Statistics SA on a job well done. The state of the economy is often in the news, with everyone wanting to know what is happening and what is expected to happen; even more so since the 2008 global economic crisis.
The appropriate measure for measuring economic growth or lack thereof is real gross domestic product, GDP. Gross National Income or GNI is, however, a better measure than GDP of determining the income and standard of living of the citizens of a country.
The daunting task of estimating GDP, GNI or even gross domestic expenditure, GDE, is carried out by Statistics SA and the SA Reserve Bank, who draw up our national accounts. These accounts are the most important sources of information about the state and the performance of the economy. However, GDP and other national accounting totals have certain shortcomings.
GDP is sometimes jokingly referred to as the "grossly deceptive product" or the "grossly distorted picture". One of the main shortcomings, as the other speakers have said, is that many transactions or activities, such as in the informal sector, are never recorded and can result in a serious underestimation of the value of GDP.
We, as the ACDP, believe that it is here that Statistics SA can play a valuable role in obtaining more accurate data to determine truer GDP figures. It provides us with very important statistical information, but we are truly mindful, and share the views of the Minister, that the reliability of these stats, upon which the figures of the GDP are determined, depends on the accuracy of the information that is received. We share the Minister's view that we have a public duty to provide reliable and accurate information.
Chair, the issue of crime stats has been raised by various speakers. We know that crime stats are produced by the SAPS, Justice and the NPA. Crime stats were last produced by Statistics SA by conducting a victims of crime survey in 1998. We ask the question: Why has Statistics SA not produced another survey, particularly in view of the controversy surrounding national crime figures and high crime levels, and the allegations of the manipulation of statistics?
To conclude, Chairperson, Statistics SA is currently planning for its Census 2011, which will involve some 120 000 field workers. We again come back to the issue of reliability and civic duty, and we need to look at the issues of undercounting. We, as the ACDP, support this Budget Vote and congratulate the officials at Statistics SA on a job well done. Thank you, Chair.