East London - Census 2011 kicked off at an informal settlement in the Eastern Cape on Monday morning with much merriment.
The residents of the impoverished East Bank informal settlement outside East London were given food parcels while they waited to take part in the counting process.
Gertrude Somniso, 52, who lives with a friend in the area, said she was surprised to hear voices outside her shack in the early hours of the morning and went to investigate.
"I was fast asleep when I heard music and strange voices outside. When I went to go investigate, I saw a group of people were wearing yellow T-shirts gathered outside. I was overwhelmed when I realised they were bringing us food and drinks," said Somniso.
Somniso, who's been living in at the informal settlement for nearly 20 years, said she really appreciated the group's gesture, as she hadn't eaten the day before and was glad to be part of the important process of counting the population.
Former Proteas bowling legend and Census ambassador, Makhaya Ntini, also attended the event.
"It's very important that these people are counted, because they're the ones who live on society's fringes. The count will enable government to know how many destitute people there are in order to be able to provide them with support," he said.
Ntini, who travelled with more than 20 census officials to hospitals, barracks, recreational sites and truck stops, also handed over baby clothing to first-time mother, Thabisa Kodwa, 20, who'd given birth at the Cecelia Makhiwane Hospital in Mdantsane on Sunday afternoon.
"This was truly unexpected and I thank Makhaya and his team for the clothing they brought me. I never thought being counted would bring so many blessings," said a visibly exhausted Kodwa.
