The release of core statistical indicators, such as price indices and gross domestic product (GDP), usually attracts immediate analysis and comment. For example, in two weeks the latest consumer price index (CPI) will form part of headline news. However, these high-profile series - for which Statistics SA is best known - form only a part of the agency's collection and dissemination of statistics.
The release of two reports last week - one on commercial agriculture, the other on municipalities - demonstrates this well.
The last census of commercial agriculture took place in 1993, and when the department of agriculture indicated that this information was of limited use, Stats SA accepted a commission to run a new census.
This covered commercial farming units in the entire country, including the former Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei states, as well as the "self-governing territories", which had been excluded from the 1993 census.
Information released last week is of considerable importance to the department of agriculture for planning purposes. It is also used extensively by Stats SA itself for compiling South Africa's national accounts, including GDP, fixed capital formation, supply and use tables and changes in inventories.
In key findings released last week, it was reported that there were 45 818 active commercial farming units in South Africa in 2002, reflecting a decrease of 12 162 farming units since the 1993 census.
The highest number of commercial farming units was situated in Free State (8 531 units), followed by Western Cape (7 185 units) and Northern Cape (6 114 units). Gauteng (2 206) and Limpopo (2 915) had the lowest number of units.
Of these 45 818 farming units, 2 330 had an annual income of more than R4 million, while 23 428 had an annual income of less than R300 000.
The formal agricultural sector generated a gross income of R53 329 million in 2002 - R21 222 million (39.8 percent) of this was generated from commercial farming in animals and animal products (compared with 49.8 percent in 1993).
Field crops contributed 30.9 percent (25.5 percent in 1993) and horticultural products 26.7 percent (24 percent in 1993).
The dominant branch of commercial farming in four of the provinces was field crops. The largest income from field crops was recorded in Free State (R5 067 million, or 30.8 percent), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (R2 773 million, or 16.8 percent), Mpumalanga (R2 566 million, or 15.6 percent) and North West (R2 448 million, or 14.9 percent).
In terms of the labour market, the number of paid workers employed by the formal agricultural sector decreased by 152 445 (13.9 percent) between 1993 (1 093 265) and 2002 (940 820). Nearly half of the employees in 2002 were seasonal workers.
The commercial agricultural sector paid R6 216 million in salaries and wages for the year to February 2002. This represents 11.7 percent of the gross farming income generated by the agricultural sector in that financial year, and 13.8 percent of total expenditure for the same period.
Total expenditure by the formal agriculture sector in 2002 amounted to R45 039 million. Only 6.5 percent, or R2 947 million of this, was spent on capital expenditure, with the remaining 93.5 percent, or R42 092 million, being current expenditure. Farming debt of the commercial agricultural sector amounted to more than R30 858 million.
Last week, Stats SA also released a report on a non-financial census of South Africa's 284 municipalities.
Neither of these censuses made the headlines. However, for regular users of statistics, they provide core data required for ongoing social and economic measurement and monitoring.
They also offer important insights into developments and change in both the commercial agricultural sector, and the tier of government responsible for delivery of core services.
Pali Lehohla is South Africa's statistician-general and head of Stats SA. For more information on Stats SA and its outputs, including last week's releases on commercial agriculture and municipalities, visit www.statssa.gov.