Parliament’s Standing Committee on Appropriations noted Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA’s) loss of critical staff and poor financial sustainability, saying if more people leave the entity, it runs the risk of total collapse.

Committee chairperson Mmusi Maimane said urgent funding of around R295-million was needed to stabilise the entity.

Stats SA reported that the high vacancy rates and the inability to fill critical positions had significantly impacted staff morale, with the committee adding that this could fuel perceptions that the entity produced unreliable data.

On Wednesday, during a briefing to MPs Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke highlighted several pressing issues, such as budget constraints, vacancy rates, and the credibility of its data.

Maluleke said Stats SA stands firmly by its Census 2022 data despite facing several challenges, stressing that this was not the first time its data was challenged.

He reaffirmed their robust data collection methods, standing by the accuracy of their statistics.

Maimane said the committee recommended that Stats SA establish closer working relationships with university professors and the private sector.

“Statistics is not about people collecting data but an engine that helps inform our policy decisions, budget allocations to national, provincial and municipal governments, and ultimately our long-term objectives as a country,” Maimane said.

The committee also suggested that Stats SA adopt innovative outreach strategies, leveraging tools such as social media, to engage with the population more effectively, especially as the world increasingly relied on mobile technology for handling big data.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for Maluleke to step aside, and for Stats SA to be placed under new, “competent” leadership to rebuild trust.

DA spokesperson on planning, monitoring and evaluation Darren Bergman said Maluleke had demonstrated a “lack of transparency and integrity”, having failed to be forthright with the country.

Bergman added that Maluleke consistently misled the public on the integrity of the census, and said he ignored valid concerns from academics and that he “covered up flaws” in Census 2022, which he said had compromised the credibility of crucial national data.

“The Statistician-General has contradicted his own statements. His inconsistency and evasive behaviour has deeply harmed Stats SA, and it is clear that he is no longer fit to lead the institution,” Bergman said.

He also highlighted that Stats SA’s resources and operations should be removed from the ‘super’ Presidency and the entity must be operationally independent.