Report on Study Tour to Statistics South Africa by MOC Chairman and Rapporteur

1.                 The tour extended from June 11^th to June 16^th ,2007 based on an invitation by Statistician General ,South Africa. An agreed upon  program was prepared by Statistics S.A.

 We received very warm and pleasant welcome, as "Sudan Delegation", from all Statistics South Africa; this continued from the time we arrived to Johannesburg Airport up to the time we left the Airport back.

2.                The first activity was a meeting with Statistics South Africa Senior  Staff , including the Statistician General . (One of Senior Staff is Dr.Jairo Arrow, Deputy Director General Quality &Integration ,a South African National of Sudanese origin –Dinka from the South ,who left Khartoum 1970 ; however , Dr.Arrow is keeping his Sudanese Nationality and catching up in all the developments in Sudan up to date .)  We explained our mission ,and what we would like to see and know; it is centered around the idea of observation ,monitoring and evaluation of different phases of any statistical operation in general ,and population censuses in particular .On their side they told us what they have for us, and what they can do .

3                 .At the "Geography Division" which "speaks statistics" we have been exposed to, and witnessed a great experiment in which the Division headed by a learned geographer who is originally statistician , makes every geographic aspect or information "speaks statistics"  .We learnt about the use of the technologies of the GIS,GPS, and GPRS ,and where to look to evaluate the results  ;also what  are the weaknesses and what are the great advantages .We saw the type of maps produced, and a lot of satellite images as samples .

The Division is presently involved in a big project: building the Dwelling Frame to cover the whole country, with detailed  information about the location , the addresses, type of dwelling …etc ; all supported by a picture of the dwelling .

4.           At the Data Processing Center, which has just completed the work on the "Community Survey " conducted 2006 ,as an intercensal  study, after South Africa shifted the planned population census of 2006 to 2011 –ten years after 2001 census .Step by step we followed the data treatment including the scanning process. 8 scanners were operating , plus two stand by to guarantee continuation .We learned where to look for weak points and where to concentrate on checking and evaluating .

Again here in the Data Processing Center, the chief person is originally a statistician. Of the things that attracted our attention in the Center ,is the strict and high level of security maintained.(in fact security is observed every where in the premises of Statistics  South Africa ).

In the Center every step of the processing is separated from the other, but arranged in linkage form and line .The erroneous and/or defective forms are treated separately and put in shape before scanning .

With regards to power supply ,There are stand –by enough generators ; but over and above ,there is a machine (one-room big) that automatically operates in case the power supply goes off ;it guarantees the continuation of the supply of power up to 28 minutes .

5.            Attended the meeting of "Population Statistics Committee", one the committees of "South Africa Statistics Council ". The meeting was mainly to discuss the Community Survey for evaluation .All phases of the survey have been tackled and discussed and evtually assessed by professional experts; we were observing and noting .

6.Met ,then with the Chairman ,and members of "South Africa Statistics Council " ,the highest body in the Statistical System in South Africa . It is non government  body composed of professionals and other specialties, mainly  statistics users .The Council is responsible for putting the policies and priorities of statistical work , plan for that and name the agency to conduct it . The Council reports its proposals and recommendations to the Minister ,who usually takes them for execution ; the Council even plans the budget for whatever statistical undertaking it considers.

The Chairman and members of South Africa Statistics Council ,explained to us how the statistics system in S.A. is working ;it is every efficient and the Council is finding full the support and assistance from the Government . The Council Chairman assured us that they will do all possible steps to help Sudan in the  field of Statistics, provided the negotiations and steps come from the two Statistics Agencies in South Africa and Sudan .

7.            The meeting with Prof.Pali J.Lihola ,Statistician General of South Africa was the last activity in our official  program. The man expressed his gratitude  and thanks for visit and welcomed and encouraged such visits between  the African Countries to exchange knowledge and expediencies .

Prof.Lihola told that he is ready to do whatever  they can to help Sudan in the field ; he and his organization ,are involved in a joint work to bring the African Statisticians together in what could be called "Statistical Pan Africanism"  ,so to speak . Already decision is taken by the group to help Sudan ,among other African Countries ,conduct its forthcoming Census .Statistics South Africa is ready to sign a memorandum of understanding with CBS for mutual corporation and assistance. We thanks Prof.Lihola for everything and offerd that MOC Chairman talk to the PCC Chairman  to add Statistics South Africa to MOC membership with their  experience .He welcomed the idea and promised they will do their best to enrich MOC work ; anyway Prof.Lihola personally will be attending the 4^th MOC regular meeting ,the 3^rd of July 2007 in Khartoum  .

8               .At the Closure of our tour we paid a visit to Sudan Embassy in Pretoria we met with H.E. Embassador  Kuol Alor how warmly welcomed us, and higly rated the visit to the Embassy when he knew why we were in Pretoria .We exchanged business cards with promises for  future contacts.