Pretoria - South Africa's cricket icon Makhaya Ntini will once again be seen on billboards and posters across the country as he helps promote Census 2011.
Speaking at an awareness campaign for Census 2011 on Sunday, Statistician-General Pali Lehohla introduced Ntini as its official ambassador.
"Ntini's role as an ambassador will be integral to informing the nation of the upcoming census which starts on 10 October 2011.
"Ntini's stature, his story of victory over adversity and embracing diversity and his ready willingness to get the message across to the nation and talk census puts him in good stead to talk sense to South Africa across racial and age groups," he said.
Ntini's role will be to spread messages about census on radio and on television. He will also help Stats SA to reach out to communities through personal appearances at road shows.
Ntini said this was an opportunity he had been waiting for. "I could not hesitate. I hope 2011 will be a year to remember," he said.
Also as part of the campaign, Ntini will be visiting schools to encourage learners to participate in sporting activities. "Sport is one of the things that brings people together," he said.
Lehohla called on all people within the borders of South Africa to avail themselves and be counted during the 2011 Census on 9 and 10 October.
He said about R3.7 billion has been set aside for the Census. Stats SA has put together a team of 156 000 personnel to assist during the census and of the total number, 120 000 would be field workers and 30 000 would supervisors. - BuaNews
