Govt admits causing census payments delays

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has acknowledged responsibility for delays in paying thousands of field workers who participated in the 2026 Population and Housing Census.

The Ministry’s Principal Secretary, Nthoateng Lebona, apologised for the delays and expressed appreciation to census field staff for their dedication and resilience while carrying out the nationwide exercise under challenging conditions.

In a press statement issued on Friday, Lebona noted that measures have since been put in place to fast-track outstanding payments.

“To address the backlog, the ministry has deployed additional accountants and human resources personnel from other government ministries to assist in processing payments more quickly” she added.