Census 2011: Western Cape leads in basic service delivery, employment & education

The 2011 census results released today reveal that the Western Cape has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, the best basic service delivery and the most people with access to education.

According the StatsSA Census 2011 Statistical Release, at 21.6% the Western Cape has the lowest narrow and expanded (29.3%) unemployment rate in South Africa. The results also reveals that the Western Cape leads in the provision of a number of basic services:

• 99.1 per cent of Western Cape residents have access to piped water both inside and outside the yard
• 91.1 per cent Western Cape residents have refuse removal
• 93.4 per cent Western Cape households have electricity
• 96.9 per cent Western Cape residents have toilet facilities

In terms of access to education, over 97.3 per cent of Western Cape residents have access to schooling.

Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Alan Winde said: "I commend all Western Cape Departments and municipalities for working tirelessly to ensure that more and more residents of our Province have access to basic services, job opportunities and education."

"This is not the time for us to rest on our laurels, we are going to work even harder to push towards reaching our target of100% basic service delivery for all. Together with all Western Cape Departments, the Western Cape Provincial Treasury will fully interrogate the results of the Census with the view of possibly requesting that National Treasury allocate our Province a more favourable Equitable Share. We will further examine the manner in which we allocate our budget to ensure that it is apportioned to the areas that the Census reveals require our attention." Minister Winde added.

Statement issued by Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic Development & Tourism, October 30 2012

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