Question-by-question

Household questionnaire National Training (v1.8)

8/9 December 2021
 Presentation outline
• Introduction
• General instructions
• Household member information
• Demographics
• Migration
• General health and functioning
• Parental survival
• Education
• Income
• Employment
• Fertility
• Housing, household goods and services
• Agricultural activities and food security
• Mortality

2
Introduction
• South Africa conducts a de facto Census – the population is
counted based on where they are found on Census night
(midnight 2-3 February 2022)
• Four groups are to be enumerated, each using a specific type
of questionnaire – households, SDIs, homeless and
transients.
• This presentation will take you through the household
questionnaire for CAPI and CATI enumeration.
• The household questionnaire is used to enumerate persons
who spent the Census night in a household set-up.
• Respondents that choose self-enumeration will use a separate
questionnaire (CAWI) with the same questions, but worded a
bit differently and with detailed instructions.

3
General instructions
• When to read out/not read out response categories:
– Read out: Response categories in small letters
– DO NOT READ OUT: Response categories in CAPITAL
LETTERS
• Do not question the respondent’s answers to questions.
• Unless otherwise stated on a specific section, all questions are
asked in relation to the Census night (midnight 2-3 February
2022).
• For this presentation, skip instructions have been included so
you can become familiar with the flow of the interview. Although
these will be applied automatically, it is important to know
which questions are applicable to who and be able to explain to
the respondent if necessary.

4
Objective of presentation

After this presentation you should:

• Be able to complete the household questionnaire accurately

• Understand all the terms used in the questionnaire
• Know why the questions are asked
• Feel confident to respond to most of the respondent’s
questions regarding the questionnaire

5
 Household member information

• This section will ask for the name, sex, date of birth and age of
every person who was present in the household on Census
night (midnight 2-3 February 2022).
• It is important that this part of the questionnaire is 100%
accurate before starting the rest of the questionnaire as the
entire questionnaire is based on this information.
• Purpose of section: (1) To collect key demographic
information used to profile the population in the country (2)
Used in population projections (3) Used in the planning and
monitoring of programmes, which are targeted at certain age
groups/sex.

6
Name and surname (1)
NAME AND SURNAME
Please give me the name and surname of every person who was present in this
household on the census night (midnight 2-3 February 2022). Start with the head/acting
head of the household.

• Before asking for the names of household members, explain

the terms HOUSEHOLD, HOUSEHOLD HEAD/ACTING
HEAD and CENSUS NIGHT to the respondent.
• The first person recorded must be the head/acting head of the
household.
• Do not forget to include babies, small children, older persons
and visitors who were present in the household on the
Census night.
• For babies with no name, record BABY, provided the baby
was born before the census night.
7
 Name and surname (2)

• Members who passed away after the Census night, must be

counted as alive.
• Do not include paid domestic workers (those who work for a
salary/wage), as they will be counted as separate
households.
• Members who were absent overnight, for example working,
travelling, at an entertainment venue or religious gathering,
etc. must be included if they returned to the household the
following day.

8
Sex (1)

• Do not make assumptions based on names provided and

physical appearances.
• Sex is a label assigned at birth based on the reproductive
organs you are born with.
• Sex refers to the physical differences between males and
females (i.e. reproductive organs, sex chromosomes and
hormones)
• Intersex people are born with both male and female
reproductive organs. For the purpose of Census 2022, the
question on sex will focus on males and females.

9
Sex (2)
• Do not confuse sex with gender. Gender means the social or
cultural distinctions associated with being male or female.
Gender includes a person’s perception, understanding and
experience of themselves and roles in society.
• Do not confuse sex with sexual orientation which is the
gender/s a person is attracted to i.e. heterosexual, homosexual,
bisexual.
• Do not confuse sex with gender expression (outward identity
such as hair, makeup, clothes).
• Importance of question: (1) Allows us to determine how many
males and females are there in country (2) Used in population
estimates (3) To address gender inequalities in terms of
education, employment, health, mortality, etc.

10
Date of birth
• Used to verify age in completed
years.
• Very important questions, try to
get as much information as
known.
• If day of birth is unknown,
select DO NOT KNOW.
• If month of birth is unknown,
select DO NOT KNOW.
• If year of birth is unknown,
record 0000.

11
Age in completed years (1)
AGE IN COMPLETED YEARS
What was (name’s) age on 2 February 2022?
For babies less than 1 year, record 0.
If age is unknown, record 999.

• Records the age of the respondent on 2 February 2022. The

correct age will be years completed between the 2 nd of February
2022 and the respondent’s date of birth.
• For babies less than 1 year, record 0 for age.
• If the age is unknown, record 999.
• You will be alerted by the system if the DOB is inconsistent with
the age you have recorded. In this case, confirm with the
respondent the date of birth and/or age.

12
Age in completed years (2)

Importance of question:
• Determines population structure, i.e. how many people are
children, youth and elderly.
• Provides information regarding educational requirements for
children, health and social services.

13
Questions/comments?

14
 Demographics

• Asked to ALL household members.

• Purpose of section: To collect key demographic
information used to profile the population (for example,
population group, household structure, marital status).
When these variables are analysed together with education
level, employment status, age and income they can yield
important information for the planning and monitoring
progress in the country.

15
Relationship to household head (1)

16
Relationship to household head (2)
• Ensure that the 1st person listed on the roster is the
head/acting head of the household.
• There can only be 1 head/acting head in each household and
every household should have 1 head/acting head.
• Partners are two people who live together like a married
couple even if they are not married to each other.
• In single member households that person will be the
household head.
• Be aware of African context – terms like stepchild, adopted
child.
• Importance of question: Determines household structure
and composition.

17
Marital status
Question asked for all
household members
aged 12 years and
older.

• Refers to the marital status of the household member on Census

night.
• Legally married: includes customary, civil, traditional or religious
marriages, i.e. those marriages recognised by the law.
Customary marriages recognise polygamy. Civil marriages
include same-sex marriages.
• Importance of question: Provides information on marriage,
divorce and widowhood patterns and levels in a country.

18
Population group (1)

If 1 to 4, go to P08

• Do not assume, even if according to you the population group

may seem obvious.
• Accept the response as given, even if you do not agree. Under
no circumstances may the response be queried.
• This is a sensitive question to some respondents who may not
want to identify themselves according to any population group.
Ensure that you respond calmly and professionally and explain
the reasons why this question is asked. Do not engage in a
debate with the respondent.

19
Population group (2)

• In cases where the respondent refuses to answer the question,

leave the question blank.
• If a respondent selects the response Other, they will be asked to
specify. Make sure that what you enter here does not already
appear on the list of responses. E.g. If a respondent says Other
and then specifies their population group as Black, you can
clarify with them if they are comfortable with Black African.
• Persons of different population groups do sometimes form part
of the same household, so do not assume the population group
of any household member.
• Importance of question: To monitor and address racial
disparities in accessing services such as education,
employment, housing, basic services, health, etc.

20
Language (1)

Question only
asked for
household
members aged 1
year and older.

21
Language (2)
• This question is not asking about mother tongue, but the
language most spoken by each household member with the
other household members. It can differ to mother tongue, first
language or the language most used at work.
• If more than one language is spoken in the household, ask the
respondent for the one language spoken MOST often.
• Response categories have been expanded beyond the official
languages to include other common languages spoken in the
country.
• Importance of question:
• Data used in analysis to determine extent of growth and
preservation of particular languages.
• Used for the planning of and development of educational
curriculum in various languages.

22
 Religious affiliation/belief (1)

This question
is asked to all
household
members.

• If the household member is affiliated to more than one religious

affiliation/belief, ask which one they mainly identify with.
• Atheism: The lack/absence of belief in a god/divine being.
• Agnosticism: Neither believe nor disbelieves in a god or a
religious doctrine.

23
Religious affiliation/belief (2)

• If the household member is a child or baby, check with the

respondent which religious affiliation or belief the child/baby is
most likely to be affiliated with. This is usually the same as the
mother or father.
• Importance of question:
• Question provides invaluable information about South
African diversity.
• Data needed for planning and resource allocation.

24
Questions/comments?

25
Checking understanding (1)
Question 1:
Busi stays in a two-and-a-half bedroom flat in Sunnyside with
her boyfriend Thabo, their child Refiloe aged 13 and their
friend Herman. Busi, Thabo and their child share resources,
but Herman buys his own groceries and cooks for himself.
Herman’s brother Thapelo is visiting from Polokwane to
attend a funeral in Pretoria on the weekend. He arrived at
Herman’s place on the morning of 2 nd February and will leave
on Sat 5th February back home to Polokwane. On Census
night they are all at the flat in Sunnyside.
How many households are at this dwelling unit on
Census night?
How many persons are in each household?

26
Checking understanding (2)

Response Q1: There are two households at this dwelling unit:

• Household 1: Busi, her boyfriend Thabo and their child

Refiloe.
• Household 2: Herman and his brother Thapelo. His brother
Thapelo is a visitor but he was there on Census night and
therefore he is counted on the list of household members.

Question 2: Busi asks you why you are asking questions

about her 13 year old daughter Refiloe’s marital status
since she is so young. What would your response be?

27
Checking understanding (3)

Response Q2:

• Minors (under the age of 18) can get married in South Africa
if they have consent from parents or legal guardian,
therefore marriage at age 12 is possible. For Census we
need a complete count of those married and therefore it is
important that we have a wider age group for this question.
• Also the population may include persons who were married
in another country with a different minimum marriage age.
• We have this age group so we can also do international
comparisons of data with corresponding ages.

28
Checking understanding (4)
Question 3:
Thapelo is Herman’s brother. When you ask him the question on
marital status, he says has been with his current girlfriend
Virginia for almost a year now. They stay together in Polokwane,
but they have not yet married.

What is Thapelo’s marital status on Census night?

29
Checking understanding (5)

Response Q3:

The question is about marital status on Census night. In the

example of Thapelo, he is living together with Virginia in
Polokwane. His marital status is “Living together like husband
and wife/partners/cohabiting”

30
 Migration
• Migration is the movement of people from one area/place to
another.
• This section applies to all household members.
• Purpose of this section:
• To measure the movement of people from one area/place to
another - who moved, from where, to where, when and why?
• Helps to explain population structure and change in
population size
• Informs migration policy and monitors movement of people
into the country and between provinces

31
Citizenship (1)

• Persons who were not born in South Africa can be citizens of

South Africa.
• Accept the respondent’s answer as given. Do not ask for
proof. If respondents hesitate to respond, remind them that
information is for statistical use and will not be disclosed to
any other authority. The Stats Act restricts the use of census
data to statistics only.
• If a person is a citizen of more than one country (i.e. dual
citizenship or more), record the country in which the person
resides most often.
32
Citizenship (2)
• If they spend equal time in both countries, the respondent
should decide which country to report as country of citizenship.
• If a person is not a citizen of any country, select Stateless.
• Stateless = person not having the nationality or citizenship of
any country, lacking both legal rights and a place of belonging,
e.g. children of cross-border migrants without official
documents.
• Importance of question:
• To identify international migrants and to distinguish them by
their country of citizenship.
• Provides statistics for analysing international migration.
• Informs immigration policies .

33
Province of birth

• Capture information according

to the current provinces.
• Some respondents may only
be familiar with the old
If 01
to 09, province names (e.g.
go to
P13a
Transvaal, Cape Province)
• Also remember that people
born in South Africa could be
If 11, go to P13a citizens of other countries.

Importance of question: Data required to analyse and report on

inter-provincial and inter-municipal movements.

34
Country of birth

• Question only applies to persons who answered Outside South

Africa in the preceding question.
• In cases where respondents hesitate or seem uncomfortable to
respond to this question, remind and assure them that the
information is for statistical use only.
• Importance of question: Development of policies related to
immigration, research on international migration.

35
Year moved to SA

• This question is for persons born outside South Africa.

• If moved more than once into South Africa, indicate the year of
last move.
• Ensure that the correct year is provided, probe where necessary,
e.g. a person cannot have moved before they were born.
• If year of move is unknown, record 0000.
• If visiting for business, medical treatment or personal reasons,
record 7777.
• Importance of question: Used to generate statistics on
international migrants.

36
Usual residence
USUAL RESIDENCE
Has (name) been part of this household for at least four nights a week and has done so for the
last six months OR intends to be part of this household for the next six months
1 = YES If 1, go to P14
2 = NO (Reside elsewhere in South Africa)
3 = NO (Reside outside South Africa) If 3, end the interview , and continue with the rest of the household
members

• This question distinguishes between members who are usual

residents (permanent members of the household) and those
visiting or temporarily residing in the dwelling.
• Information used to generate de jure (resident) population of a
locality/area & de facto (present on Census night) population.
• De jure = enumeration of individuals where they usually reside.
• De facto = enumeration of individuals where they are on census
night (this is what Stats SA Census collects).
• For household members whose usual residence is in other
countries select No (Reside outside South Africa). The interview
will end for that person.
37
Province of usual residence

 This question only applies to those who indicated that they

are not usual residents in that dwelling.
 This question refers to the province where the person
usually resides.

38
Municipality of usual residence

 This question asks for the municipality where the person

usually resides. Probe further if the municipality is not known
by asking about service provision in terms of water, electricity,
and refuse removal etc. If the municipality is not known, select
DO NOT KNOW.
 A pre-loaded list of municipalities will automatically appear,
depending on the province of usual residence the respondent
selected in the preceding question.

39
City/town of usual residence

• Examples can be a city or town or township where the person

lives (for urban areas) or village or farm (non-urban areas).
• The question refers to their place of usual residence and NOT
where they are visiting.
• In cases where the respondent does not know the exact place,
he/she can give the nearest city or town or township or village as
approximation of the place.

40
City/town of usual residence (2)

• A pre-loaded list of main places will automatically be listed

depending on the province and local municipality chosen in the
previous questions.
• If the city/town/village/township is not listed, then record the
city/town/village/township provided by the respondent.
• Importance of question: Required for determining local
municipality of usual residence and province of usual residence.

41
Movement since 2011

• Question applies to everyone in the household including visitors

present on the Census night (2-3 February 2022).
• A move is when the current place name is different from the
previous one.
• For visitors, “this place” refers to their place of usual residence
and NOT where they are visiting.

42
Year & month of move

• If a person moved more than once, record the month and

year of last move.
• Year of move must be between 2011 and 2022.
• If year of move is unknown, record 0000.

43
Province of previous residence

 This question refers to the province in which the person

resided before moving to this place.
 If respondent lived outside the country, select Outside South
Africa.
 If moved more than once, select the province of last move.

44
Municipality of previous residence

 Requires the municipality in which the respondent lived before

moving to the present dwelling. For example, if the person lived
in Pretoria West previously you would select City of Tshwane.
 If moved more than once, select the municipality of their last
move.
 A pre-loaded list of municipalities will be provided, depending on
the province of previous residence the respondent selected in
the preceding question.
 If the municipality is not known, select DO NOT KNOW.

45
City/town of previous residence

 Note that this question refers to the city/town/traditional

area/village/township of previous residence of the respondent.
 If moved more than once, select the city/town/traditional area of
last move.
 A pre-loaded list of the main places in the respective
municipalities will be provided.
 If the city/town/village/township is not listed, then record the
city/town/village/township provided by the respondent.

46
Main reason for move

Importance of question:
• Used to inform policy makers on reason for movement.
• Required for planning and resource allocation for service
delivery.
47
Comments/questions?

48
Checking understanding
Question 1:
Remember Thapelo? Herman’s brother who was visiting from
Polokwane. Answer the below questions for him.

NO (Reside elsewhere in SA)

LIMPOPO

49
 General health & functioning
• Asked to household members aged 5 years and older.
• Purpose of section:
• To measure disability and the general health and
functioning of the population.
• Generate information on disability and provide necessary
information for planning.

50
General functioning

• Response options should be read out to the respondent each

time.
• For seeing and hearing, the question asks if the respondent
has any difficulty even when using glasses/contact lenses or
a hearing aid. So if the respondent sees very well with
glasses then they will respond No difficulty.

51
Assistive devices

• Assistive devices enable persons living with disabilities to live

meaningful, active and productive lives.
• Purpose of question: To determine the extent of access to
assistive devices.

52
Questions/comments?

53
Checking understanding (1)
Question 1:
When you ask Busi about her level of difficulty seeing, she
responds that she has been using spectacles since the age
of 16. What will be the response on the two questions below?

54
Checking understanding (2)
Response Q1:
For the first question you would need to repeat the question
to Busi and ask her what her level of difficulty is seeing whilst
she is wearing her spectacles. She then confirms that when
she is not wearing her spectacles she cannot see much, but
when she wears them, she can see perfectly.

NO DIFFICULTY

YES

55
 Parental survival

• Purpose of section: To collect information on orphanhood

and to estimate adult mortality (adult deaths).
• These questions may be sensitive and if necessary you may
need to empathise with the respondent.

56
Mother alive

• The question refers to the respondent’s biological mother,

meaning their birth mother (the woman who gave birth to
him/her).
• You must probe to ensure that a stepmother, a mother by
adoption or an aunt or grandmother or any other female
caregiver is not mistakenly reported as biological mother.

57
Father alive

• The question refers to the respondent’s biological father.

• You must probe to ensure that a stepfather, a father by adoption
or an uncle or grandfather is not mistakenly reported as the
biological father.
• Note that in some cases, the respondent may not know who
their biological father is.

58
Questions/comments?

59
 Education

Purpose of section:
• To collect information critical for government, planners and
policy makers in determining education indicators such as
access to education.
• Information required to evaluate skills gaps and to assist in
identifying training needs of the country.

60
Attendance at an ECD institution

Question only
applies to
Go to P23
(Section F)
children aged
0-4 years old.

• Crèche/educare centre: Day care facility providing supervised play

for babies/young children for longer periods (up to 12 hours).
• Child minder/day mother: Person providing care and early learning
for up to 6 children, usually in their own homes.
• Home/community playgroup: A group of young children organised
for play/activities for early learning & development. Children attend a
playgroup until the year before they enter formal school. Usually
accompanied by their parents/caregivers & supervised by a
facilitator.
61
Attendance at an educational institution (1)

• Question applies to persons in the household 5 years and older.

• Educational institution is a school, university/college, home
schooling, pre-school, distance/correspondence education.
• Attendance also includes home schooling and
distance/correspondence education such as UNISA.

62
Attendance educational institution (2)

• Do not include persons attending short courses, e.g. a person

attending a 3 months course in security training or a short
course on manicure and pedicure training. ONLY attendance of
courses of six months or longer should be included.
• TVET/Private colleges (Option 6) = former FET colleges such
as Buffalo City TVET College, Tshwane North TVET College.
• Higher education institutions (Option 8) = universities such as
UCT, WITS, UWC and universities of technology such as TUT,
DUT.

63
Attendance educational institution (3)

Importance of question:
• Provides information for planning, monitoring and policy
formulation.
• Data required to measure progress in addressing
gender/population group disparities in access to education.

64
Highest level of education (1)

If 98 or 00-12, go to P23
(Section F)

Only asked to
persons aged 5
years & older.
If 29, go to P23 (Section F)

65
Highest level of education (2)

• Refers to highest level completed, not currently studying.

• E.g. A learner currently in Grade 12 has completed Grade 11,
so her highest level of education is Grade 11.
• For persons who did not have a formal education, select NO
SCHOOLING
• A diploma/certificate should be at least 12 months study
duration full-time or part-time.
• Importance of question: Data required to assess skill gaps &
assist in identifying country’s training needs

66
Field of education (1)

Question only
applies to persons
with a post-school
qualification.

67
Field of education (2)

• If the respondent wants to indicate more than one field of study,

ask them to indicate the field in which they have the highest
level of education. If they have several fields of the same level
(e.g. 2 bachelor degrees) choose the field that is most related to
their current work/practice.
• Importance of question: Data required in identifying and
addressing scarce skills in the country.

68
Questions/comments?

69
Checking understanding (1)
Question 1:
When you ask Herman the question on attendance and
educational institution type, he tells you that he completed matric
and started studying further in 2018. He was about to enter the
2nd year of his BCom undergraduate degree at University of
Limpopo, Turfloop when he got a contract position to work at the
Department of Labour (DoL) as a UIF data capturer in Pretoria.
He decided to abandon the B.Com and registered for a 6 week
distance learning course with You-Are-A-Star Academy on how to
code for websites, whilst working at DoL.
What is the correct response for attendance at an
educational institution?
What is the correct response for highest level of education?
What is the correct response for field of education?
70
Checking understanding (2)
Response Q1:
Even when the respondent narrates a lot of information, ensure
that you ask them the question directly so they can choose one
of the options listed. Some are more inclined to talk and not
answer directly. You can listen, then probe “Herman, you say the
coding course you currently attending is only 6 weeks? We do
not include attendance that is less than 6 months for this
question, so in your case the response will be “No”.

NO

71
Checking understanding (3)
Highest level of education: “Herman you say you did not
complete your university degree. What is your highest level of
education that you have successfully completed? Is it Grade
12/Standard 10 or did you do any other further education?”

GRADE 12/STANDARD 10/FORM 5/MATRIC/NCV LEVEL 4/OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATE

NQF LEVEL 4

Field of education
• How many in this training group said Herman’s field of education
was Business, Economics and Management Science?
• How many said Computer and Information Sciences?
• How many had a different response?

72
Checking understanding (4)

Response: Herman will not even be asked this question, as his

highest level of education is Grade 12.

Remember on the electronic questionnaire, the question on field

of education will be automatically skipped for Herman once you
select the Grade 12/Standard 10 option. However it is important
to know as a enumerator which questions apply to whom. The
respondent may have heard you asking his brother Thapelo
about his field of education and queries why you have not asked
him the question. You will be able to respond to him if you
understand which questions are applicable to whom.

73
 Income category

• Question asked of ALL household members, including children.

• Question is on the income received in the past 12 months (3
February 2021-2 February 2022).
• Importance of question: Information required for identifying
vulnerable population and households with no income to
inform programmes aimed at improving people’s lives.

74
Income category (1)

75
Income category (2)
• Note: this is a sensitive question and some respondents may
not feel comfortable disclosing the amount of income they
receive.
• Remind them of the confidentiality clause that you are bound
to as a Stats SA employee.
• Inform respondent that reporting is based on income
categories/ bracket and not the exact amount.
• Respondent should report on income bracket per month or
per annum.
• Income reported must be on all sources, including social
grants.
• Income received as a child support grant should be recorded
under the child and not the parent/caregiver.

76
Income category (3)
Examples:
 Salaries and wages
 Profit received from operating a business (formal/informal, full-
time/part-time)
 Income from subsistence farming
 Income received from rented/hired property
 Retirement income/pension from previous employment/annuity
fund
 Social grants/any form of income received from the government
(e.g. grants-in-aid, child support grant, foster care grant, care
dependency grant, war veteran's grant, disability grant, old age
grant, social relief grant)
 The COVID 19 income grant (R350) should also be included as
an income for unemployed persons aged 18 years and older
that received the grant
77
Income category (4)
Examples (cont.)
 Child maintenance
 Support from family member
 Remittance (money sent from a non-household member to the
household as a gift on a regular basis)
 Royalty (money paid to the owner of a copyright or patent)
 Dividends (share of profits paid to shareholders)
 Interest received (e.g. from investment deposits)
 Income from share trading
 Other income sources (e.g. income from begging, donations or
received from selling of illegal goods)

78
Income category (5)
• If the source of income is salaries and wages, calculate the
amount using gross income. Gross income is an individual's
total income before taking taxes or deductions into account.
• If an individual gets income from 2 or more different sources,
those incomes should be added and one category should be
selected accordingly. E.g. Andrew is working at Shoprite and he
is also a bar attendant during the weekend. He receives R1 500
at Shoprite a fortnight and R1 500 per weekend at Ayepyep.
Then he receives R9 000 monthly for both jobs.
• Or Jerry is statistician who earns R10 000 monthly and he is
also a pastor and receives R15 000 monthly at church. Then
his total income will be R25 000 .

79
Income category (6)

Example: A respondent had a business for 3 months and also

got a job within the 12 month period.

If the respondent owned a business for the 3 months in the 12

month period AND got employed within the reference period,
then their two incomes will be added together and the total
amount will guide you to select one of the options.

80
Questions/comments?

81
Checking understanding (1)
Question 1: Busi works as a sales assistant at TotalSports at a
local mall. In addition, she sells cosmetics to friends and
colleagues as an extra source of income.
When you ask her about her income category she says at
TotalSports she earns R 8500 per month before deductions. The
last time she made money selling cosmetics was in November
2021 when she made a profit of R1200 selling lipstick and
eyeshadow sets.

What is the correct category of income that Busi should

select?

82
Checking understanding (2)
Response Q1:
Busi’s total income should include all her sources of income in the
reference period which is the past 12 months (3 Feb 2021 to 2 Feb
2022).

Monthly income from TotalSports salary = R8500 per month

Income from cosmetic sales (Nov 2021) = R1200
R1200/12 months = Average of R100 per month.
Her monthly income will be R8500+100 = R8600

83
Checking understanding (3)
Question 2:
Busi gives her 13 year old daughter Refiloe (they live in one
household) an allowance of R100 every month to buy airtime and
some snacks at school. When you get to the question on income for
Refiloe, what would be the correct response?

Will it be Option 02 = R1-R400

or
Option 1 = NO INCOME

84
Checking understanding (4)

Response Q2:
The correct response is Option 1= NO INCOME.
In this example, Busi and Refiloe are from the same household. We
only record the allowances or remittances received by the
household member when it is sent from a non-household member
to the household.

85
 Employment

• Questions about economic activities of all household

members aged 15 years and older.
• Purpose of this section: To collect information on the
country’s labour force - those participating in economic
activities through employment and self-sustainability
(business/farming) as well as identifying the unemployed
population.

86
Employment status (1) P24

• New question - has not been used in a Census in SA.

• Stress reference period: Last week before 3 February 2022
= Monday to Sunday of the previous week (all 7 days
included).
• Those involved in both business activities and work should
record the option where they spend most of their time and
not the one that gives them the highest salary.

87
Employment status (2)
• Work: Any activity carried out by the respondent during the
reference week in return for payment as an employee, in return
for a profit or for household gain (where household gain
includes activities such as helping unpaid in a household
business).
• Employee: Person who is employed on a permanent,
temporary or casual basis.
• Business activity: Examples of business activities include
commercial farming, selling things, making things for sale,
construction, repairing things, guarding cars, brewing beer,
collecting water or wood for sale, hairdressing, crèche business,
taxi or other transport business, having a legal or medical
practice, performing in public or having a public phone shop.

88
Employment status (3)

• Labourer: a person hired to do physical work, for example on

farms or in construction.
• Apprentice: A person who holds a paid job on a temporary
basis to acquire workplace experience and skills working for a
fixed period at low wage/stipend.
• Importance of question:
• Information required to identify persons employed in the
reference period.
• Information required for planning and addressing
unemployment challenges.

89
 P25
Farming/animal products
FARMING/ANIMAL PRODUCTS
Are the farming or animal products that (name) is working on intended …?
1 = Only for sale
2 = Mainly for sale If 1 or 2, go to P29a
3 = Mainly for household consumption
4 = Only for household consumption

• Only applies to respondents who work in farming/fishing. The

question seeks to find out whether the products they produce are
for sale only; for household consumption only; or for both.
• Only for sale: Farming/fishing products produced for sale only.
• Mainly for sale: Products are produced for sale mainly, but some
can be used for household consumption. 51% work
• Mainly for household consumption: Products are produced
mainly for household consumption, but some can be sold.
51% household consumption
• Only for household consumption: Products are produced only
for the household to consume.
90
 Other work P26
OTHER WORK
In the week before 3 February 2022 (Monday to Sunday), did (name) …?
1= Do any (other) activity to generate an income, even for one hour (e.g. casual
work, odd jobs, make things to sell, provide services for pay) If 1, 2 or 3,
2 = Have a paid job or business activity, but (was/were) temporarily absent go to P29a
3 = Help without pay in a household business
4 = Did not do any income generating activity, not even for one hour

• Question only applies to respondents who selected “4 = none of

the above” and those who farm for own consumption on the
employment status question.
• Question seeks to measures temporary absence, participation
without any payment in a household business or any other minor
income generating activities.
• Temporary absence: Persons who are on leave, e.g. annual
leave, sick leave, maternity leave or any other leave. They did not
work in the last week, but they have a job to which they will
definitely return.
91
Look for work (1) P27

LOOK FOR WORK

In the 4 weeks before 3 February 2022, did (name) look for a paid job or try to start a
business?
1 = YES
2 = NO

• Note the reference period is four weeks before 3 February

2022.
• Looking for a job could involve activities such as:
• registering at an employment agency
• enquiring at workplaces
• placing/answering advertisements
• searching on the internet
• seeking assistance from friends or relatives

92
Look for work (2)

• Activities with respect to businesses, incl. small businesses,

include:
• seeking finance from the bank or from friends and relatives
• searching for business premises (a stall in a market, or a
shop etc.)
• Importance of question: Information required to identify
people who were actively searching for employment or were
trying to start a business.

93
Available to work P28

Go to P32 (Section H) if applicable, else go to Section I

• This question is for persons who responded “did not do any

income generating activity, not even for one hour” in the
question on other work.
• Purpose of the question: To identify unemployed persons
who were available for work, if their circumstances allowed.

94
Occupation (1) P29a

• The purpose of question is to capture person’s occupation in their

main job including casual work.
• Occupation: refers to the activities undertaken by persons
working in that business/establishment
• Examples of a good answer. CAR SALES PERSON, OFFICE
CLEANER, VEGETABLE FARMER, PRIMARY SCHOOL
TEACHER, DOMESTIC WORKER
• Seller, cleaner, farmer, teacher are bad responses, therefore, you
should probe to get the correct information from the respondent.

95
Occupation (2)
• For persons that selected the option “Help without pay in a
household business” in the question on other work you need to
provide their occupation in that business even though they are
not receiving pay. E.g. if the person works in the household
business that is a spaza shop ask them what they do at the
spaza shop and capture that as their occupation.
• Importance of question: (1) Used to plan and evaluate
education, employment, career development and job training
programs, and to measure compliance with antidiscrimination
policies (2) Provides information on the type of work according
to International Standard Classifications of Occupation (ISCO)
(3) For planning purposes and international comparison

96
Main task and duties (1) P29b

• Main tasks/duties - the kind of work typically performed in a

job.
• E.g. SELLING FRUITS, REPAIRING WATCHES, KEEPING
ACCOUNTS, TEACHING CHILDREN, FEEDING CATTLE
• For domestic workers capture the main task they perform in
the private household e.g. MAINTAIN THE GARDEN,
COOKING FOOD, IRONING CLOTHES, LOOKING AFTER
CHILDREN, DRIVING THE FAMILY, etc.
• Persons with more than one job should report on main activity
in the main job (where they spend more time).
• The purpose of question is to capture sufficient detail to
enable the data coder to find the appropriate ISCO code for
occupation.

97
Occupation and main task/duties
The following are examples of good and bad answers to these two
questions:

Good answers Bad answers

Occupation Accounts clerk Clerk
Main task/duty Compile monthly accounts Office work
Occupation Textile Machine Operator Machinist
Main task/duty Operating a sewing machine Operator
Occupation Primary school teacher Teacher
Main task/duty Teaching primary school children Education
Occupation Hotel manager Manager
Main task/duty Control staff, food, etc. in a hotel Managing

98
Main activity of place of work P30a

• Examples: POLICE DEPARTMENT, RESTAURANT,

TRANSPORT COMPANY
• For individuals who work for private households (e.g. domestic
workers, gardeners), record PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD
• Importance of question:
• Provides information on the branch of economic activity
within which the activity is performed and assists in
identifying which branch of the economy absorbs more
people.
• Provides information for purposes of international
comparison based on International Standard Industrial
Classification (ISIC).

99
Main goods or services (1) P30b

• This question is about the goods and/or services

produced/function at the organisation or business where the
respondent works.
• E.g. REPAIRING CARS, RETAIL CLOTHING, PRIMARY
EDUCATION, MANUFACTURING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES.
• For individuals who work for private households (e.g. domestic
workers, gardeners etc.), record PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD
• If the respondent was an ACCOUNTANT for a gold mining
company - record GOLD MINING, not accountant. Provide a
good description so that the correct industry code can be
allocated.

100
Main goods or services (2)

• Goods are the products that that the business produces e.g.
furniture, computers, clothes, cell phones
• Services provided include transport, real estate, retail trade,
construction, electricity, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry,
tourism

101
Employer/employee type (1) P31

EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE TYPE
Does (name) work as …?
1 = An employee
2 = A paid apprentice/intern
3 = An employer (with hired employees)
4 = An own-account worker (without hired employees)
5 = A helper (without pay) in a household business

Employee: Person who works for someone else for pay

(wage/salary/commission from sales or in kind pay i.e.
products/housing and meals). Includes formal and informal
employees with permanent, fixed term, casual, temporary contracts
or agreements, whether written or verbal.

102
Employer/employee type (2)
Paid apprentice/intern: Person who holds a paid job on a
temporary basis to acquire workplace experience and skills
working for a fixed period at low wage/stipend. Includes formal
and informal paid apprentices, interns, trainees. Excludes
employees on probation periods or on training assignments
required by their jobs.

Employer: A person who works in his/her own business activity

and hires paid employees on a regular basis. Employers may
hire employees on a formal or informal basis, for long or short
durations, including casual employees.

103
Employer/employee type (3)

An own-account worker: Person who operates his/her own

business or engages independently in a profession or trade but
does not hire any employees.

A helper (without pay) in a family business: A person who

helps without receiving direct pay in business activity of a
household member or a family member living elsewhere. It
also includes cases where a person helps a family member
with their paid job.

104
Checking understanding (1)
Question 1: Respond to the following questions for Busi. She
works as a sales assistant at TotalSports.

Work for someone else for pay as an employee, labourer or apprentice

RETAIL SALES ASSISTANT

105
Checking understanding (2)

ASSISTING CUSTOMERS WITH SALES

SPORTSWARE RETAIL COMPANY

106
Checking understanding (3)

RETAIL CLOTHING STORE

AN EMPLOYEE

107
Questions/comments?

108
 Fertility
• Fertility refers to the number of children born. Only biological
children must be included.
• This section applies to women aged 10-50 years in the household,
including female visitors present on Census night (midnight 2-3
February 2022).
• In cases where the respondent is a male and there are females in
the household aged 10-50 years, request to interview one of the
females. It is preferred that the women answer for themselves if
available. If not, a proxy who has that knowledge can answer.
• You must be sensitive when asking fertility questions about young
girls and be able to explain why information should be collected on
girls as young as 10 years. Indicate to the respondent that in South
Africa we have cases where girls have children at a young age and
the government/NGOs need to see the extent of this .

109
Ever given birth

If 02 or 03, go to H01 (Section I)

• Remind the respondent that stillbirths (children born dead) and

miscarriages must NOT be counted as births.
• Do not make assumptions about whether a woman has given
birth or not, especially for young girls.
• If the respondent is a proxy and is not sure if the person has
given birth or not, select response category DO NOT KNOW.

110
 Age at first birth

• If age is unknown record 999.

• Importance of question:
• Information used to measure impact of programs such
as family planning, reproductive health and sex
education
• Provides information on age at which women start child-
bearing.

111
Total children ever born

• Respondent should include all children whether or not they

are still alive, whether or not they live in the household. Adult
children should also be included. Do not include stillbirths and
miscarriages.
• Information is used to indicate the number of children born to
women over their lifetime.
• If the respondent does not know, record 99.

112
Total children surviving

• Respondent is expected to report on number of biological

children that are still alive, living in the household and
elsewhere including adults.
• Remember that only biological children (children born to the
woman) must be included, not step children/adopted children.
• If the respondent does not know, record 99.
• Importance of question: Generates information on infant
and child mortality.

113
Total children no longer alive

• This a sensitive question and care should be taken when

asking it.
• Remind the respondent not to count stillbirths (i.e. children
born dead) and miscarriages when reporting on children no
longer alive.
• Remember that only biological children must be included.
• If the respondent does not know, record 99.
• Importance of question: Information required to generate
indirect mortality (child death) estimates.

114
Date of birth of last child born
• Remind the respondent not
to include stillbirths and
miscarriages.
• If day of birth is unknown,
select DO NOT KNOW.
• If month of birth is unknown,
select DO NOT KNOW.
• If the respondent cannot
remember the year, ask
them to estimate from the
age of child (if still alive).

• If year of birth is unknown then record 0000.

115
Sex of last child born

• This question refers to the sex of the woman’s last biological

child born alive.
• If multiple births occurred such as twins or triplets, indicate
the sex of the last child born.
• Remind the respondent not to count stillbirths and
miscarriages.

116
Last child born alive

• This question refers to the woman’s last biological child and

asks whether that child is still alive.
• Remind the respondent not to count stillbirths and
miscarriages.
• Importance of question: Information required to generate
child deaths.

117
Questions/comments?

118
Checking understanding (1)

Question 1: What age group of females are required to

respond to questions on fertility?

Response Q1: Fertility questions apply to females aged 10-50

years

Question 2: (i) How will you explain to a parent of a 10-year old

child why you are asking questions on fertility for their child?
(ii) How will you explain to a 51-year old female that you do not
require her fertility information if she asks you?

119
Checking understanding (2)

Response Q2: Fertility questions are asked so that we have data

on the number of children ever born. In South Africa we do have
cases where girls have children at a young age and the
government/NGOs need to see the extent of this. The 10-50 year
age group makes provision for the early onset of menarche (when
a female begins to menstruate) and the beginning of menopause
(when a female stops menstruating).

120
Checking understanding (3)

Question 3: Can Busi’s boyfriend, Thabo respond to the fertility

questions for their child Refiloe if he knows that information?

Response Q3: The ideal way to ask fertility questions is to ask

the questions directly to that particular female. So in this case
you would want to ask the questions to Refiloe herself. However
because this is not always practical or possible, the next best
option is to ask another female in the household which is Busi,
her mother. In some cases this will also not be possible and only
then can a proxy like Thabo (who is knowledgeable about the
required information) answer on behalf of Refiloe. It is however
discouraged to ask males the questions about fertility.

121
Questions/comments ?

122