Pretoria- - "I suppose statistics is what I enjoy," says the man with a warm laugh. Just as well he enjoys working with figures - he is the country's chief statistician.
"My wife always says 'that for so long you have said that once you finish with the business of statistics you will have more time for the family'. And I said 'but you are part of statistics!' I enjoy statistics," he says, and explodes into another hearty laugh.
Lehohla carries the responsibility of handling the country's statistics on his shoulders, a job which he describes as interesting.
"It's a very interesting job because of the nature of statistics. It brings you close to politics that you cannot actually participate in. Once you do that, then you're referee and player at the same time. Statistics talks to authority. It is about holding those in power to account," he says.
Lehohla was appointed as South Africa's first Statistician General in 2000.
"It places a burden on you as a person who has to collect the results in that it asks of you (to be) of high morality, high integrity because of the level of trust that is placed on the numbers.
"Being the Statistician General and having to deal particularly with social measurements that are so complex and having to reduce numbers that are digestible by policy is difficult and very challenging. It is a position of privilege to serve."
One of the jobs executed by the head of Statistics South Africa is the national census which will be carried out in October 2011.
"The census always gives different surprises, each one is unique, although the intentions are to make up the same phenomenon," says Lehohla of the upcoming third census since the advent of democracy. The country's mid year population statistics in 2010 were at 49.99 million.
Dealing with the undercount associated with carrying out a census is an important aspect as Stats SA prepares for the census.
"What is different about this one is that we have really thought about how we deal with the undercount (which was 10 percent in 1996 and 17 percent in 2001). Over the last two censuses we've had an increase. Obviously we are at a margin that is unacceptable and to deal with this we are recruiting enumerators early as well as training them early," explains Lehohla.
Enumerators will also be out in the field for a longer period counting all people in the country despite their nationality or their legal status in the country. The homeless are to be counted as well. Questions in next year's census have not been changed and will be available in all of the 11 official languages.
The quantitative evidence that is provided by a census is crucial in a democratic country where accountability is demanded at all levels emphasises Lehohla.
"This 2011 census gives crucial information for the Millenium Development Goals not only at the national but at the local level. A census provides information for particularly goals on education as well as on poverty and gender equality. It also provides information on health related goals," said Lehohla.
He added that countries should avoid a situation whereby a census is not carried out.
"In extreme cases the absence of censuses lead to endemic conflicts and wars because decisions are driven by the might of the sword rather than reasoning. And where censuses are not regular, when undertaken they tend to shock the system as was the case in Nigeria in the Biafran war aimed cesession because the census was pointing to a different balance of power to one which was made a belief," said Lehohla of the July 1967 to January 1970 civil war. The war was a result of not only economic but also ethnic and religious tension between the people of that country.
Much has happened on the African continent in terms of statistics. "We've actually advanced the African Agenda on statistics. The intention is to make sure that Africa counts."
The continent's biggest country Sudan, which has been marred by instability, is among the countries helped by South Africa in conducting its census in 2008. Another African state, Angola, is to hold its population census in 2013, the first since 1970.
"The 2008 census in Sudan has been a key pillar to the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement of 2005," he pointed out of the agreement that ended years of violence.
South Africa has helped in the censuses preparations of Iraq which in recent years has experienced instability and the loss of lives. The country is due to conduct a census in December.
"In Iraq this was made possible based on the key learning points from Sudan. We have managed to contribute to the shaping of how the world bodies, particularly the United Nations, actually take on statistics of countries," he explains.
South Africa hosted the 57th International Statistical Institute (ISI) session in Durban last year.
Lehohla says that South Africa is pushing for the continent to address matters of statistics as well as focusing on statistical studies.
"Census at schools breaks the barriers towards the fear of statistics at an early age by asking children things about themselves and processing data and presenting it to themselves so they immediately see application and the beauty of statistics," he says.
There is a dire need for statisticians he says: "What needs to be done is to strengthen the mathematical foundation as it goes hand in hand with statistics. Pupils drop mathematics because of a lack of competency to teach it."
Lehohla says an institute of statistics will open soon.
"The future of statistics looks bright because of the support from the political system. I think the coherence and consistency in the organisation has created conditions of stability going forward," he adds.
"Other than statistics I enjoy watching soccer. I read quite extensively, classics mostly," he says, adding that deep-voiced, mbaqanga singer, Mahlatini, is among some of his favourite musicians.
