THE 5TH ISIBALO SYMPOSIUM – ADVANCING EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING

MEDIA ADVISORY

5 MARCH 2026

THE 5TH ISIBALO SYMPOSIUM – ADVANCING EVIDENCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING

The KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier, in collaboration with Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), will host the 5th Isibalo Symposium on 12 and 13 March 2026. The symposium serves as a platform to promote evidence-based decision-making through collaborative discussions and knowledge sharing among key stakeholders from government, business, academia, civil society, and schools.

This year’s symposium, themed “Governing data, empowering policy: A symposium for data-driven decision making in KwaZulu-Natal”, willinclude panel discussions, case study presentations, and exhibitions showcasing innovative approaches to data use and policy development.

Discussions and papers are crafted under the following sub-themes:

From Insight to Action: Bridging Data and Policy.
Data, Justice and Inclusion: Ensuring No One is Left Behind.
Innovation for Insight: Digital Tools and Data Hubs.

Media briefing will be held as follows:

Date: 12-13 March 2026

Time: 09:00 – 16:30

Venue: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

RSVP AND ACCREDITATION:

To confirm attendance and enable accreditation, kindly RSVP by 09 March 2026 to:Ravi Naidoo Tel: 031 3600 600 Cell: 079 525 5490 Email: ravin@statssa.gov.za

For media inquiries contact: Gabriel Dlamini: Cell: 084 040 9889 Email: GabrielD@statssa.gov.za

Issued by Statistics South Africa

Follow us on social media: Facebook: Stats SA; X: @StatsSA; LinkedIn:Statistics South Africa; YouTube: TheStatisticsSA

Posted on March 9, 2026 Facebook Twitter Linkedin

Economic Stats

Joe de Beer (Deputy Director-General)
012 310 8024
082 888 2600
joedb@statssa.gov.za

Peter Perkins
(Economist)
012 310 8389
082 883 9532
peterp@statssa.gov.za

Social Stats

Gwen Lehloenya (Acting Deputy Director-General)
012 310 8333
082 888 2323
gwenL@statssa.gov.za

Neo Nghenavo
(Director)
012 310 8047
082 888 2613
neon@statssa.gov.za

**Scroll for more contacts by subject area**
Topic	Contact	Alternative Contact
Consumer price index (CPI), Producer price index (PPI), Unit value indices: exports / imports, Construction materials price indices	Patrick Kelly (Chief Director) 012 310 8290 082 888 2248 patrickke@statssa.gov.za	Marietjie Bennett (Director) 012 310 8077 082 888 2194 marietjieb@statssa.gov.za
Government finance: national and provincial government	Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za	Elizabeth Makhafola (Director) 012 310 8977 082 888 9062 elizabethma@statssa.gov.za
Government finance: local government	Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 mosesmn@statssa.gov.za	Malibongwe Mhemhe (Director) 012 310 6928 082 906 8964 malibongwem@statssa.gov.za
Supply and use tables, Satellite accounts, Regional GDP	Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za
Gross domestic product (GDP), production	Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za	Bontlenyana Makhoba(Chief Economist) 012 310 8567 bontlenyanam@statssa.gov.za
Gross domestic product (GDP), expenditure	Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 michaelm@statssa.gov.za	Litshani Ligudu (Director) 012 310 4674 082 884 4279 litshanil@statssa.gov.za
Environmental-economic accounts	Gerhardt Bouwer (Chief Director) 012 310 8241 082 888 2409 gerhardb@statssa.gov.za	Riaan Grobler (Director) 012 406 3474 084 515 2908 riaang@statssa.gov.za
Mining, manufacturing, electricity, capacity utilisation	Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za	Nicolai Claassen (Director) 012 310 8007 076 759 0200 nicolaic@statssa.gov.za
Retail, wholesale, motor, land transport	Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za	Keshnee Naidoo (Director) 012 310 8423 083 689 5341 keshneen@statssa.gov.za
Building, liquidations, civil cases for debt, food & beverages, tourist accommodation	Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 hlabim@statssa.gov.za	Joyce Essel-Mensah (Director) 012 310 8255 082 888 2374 joycee@statssa.gov.za
Annual financial statistics (AFS)	Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za	Amukelani Ngobeni (Director) 012 310 2938 082 677 4536 amukelanin@statssa.gov.za
Quarterly financial statistics (QFS)	Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 sagarenp@statssa.gov.za	Krisseelan Govinden (Director) 012 310 4651 082 901 7960 krisseelang@statssa.gov.za
Structural industry statistics (large sample surveys of industries every 3 to 5 years; agriculture)	Itani Magwaba (Chief Director) 012 337 6471 / 6254 082 905 5143 itanim@statssa.gov.za	Tshepo Pekane (Director) 012 310 8191 083 675 8654 tshepop@statssa.gov.za
Population Statistics (Census and Community Survey)	Christine Khoza (Chief Director) 012 310 2185 071 670 2672 christinek@statssa.gov.za	Angela Ngyende (Chief Statistician) 012 310 4699 079 519 3212 angelan@statssa.gov.za
Demography-Mid-year Population Estimates	Diego Iturralde (Chief Director) 012 310 8922 082 413 2661 diegoi@statssa.gov.za	Chantal Munthree (Chief Statistician) 012 310 6648 082 888 2289 chantalMu@statssa.gov.za
Labour Statistics- Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS)	Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za	Desiree Manamela (Director) 012 310 2145 071 681 2768 DesireeM@statssa.gov.za Malerato Mosiane (Chief Statistician) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za
Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES)	Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 8882449 maleratoM@statssa.gov.za	Matlapane Masupye (Acting Director) 012 310 8168 082 317 5340 matlapanem@statssa.gov.za
Tourism Statistics (Domestic Tourism Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Brenda Mosima (Director) 012 310 8168 082 906 7925 BrendaMo@statssa.gov.za
Crime and Safety Statistics (Victims of Crime Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Joseph Lukhwareni (Director) 012 310 8485 082 888 2486 JosephL@statssa.gov.za
Service Delivery Statistics (General Household Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Niel Roux (Director) 012 310 2939 082 904 7919 NielR@statssa.gov.za
Transport Statistics (National Travel Survey)	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Solly Molayi (Director) 012 310 6442 083 440 7035 SollyMol@statssa.gov.za
Gender Statistics	Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 IsabelSc@statssa.gov.za	Tshepo Mabela (Director) 012 310 8587 082 941 9383 TshepoMab@statssa.gov.za
Mortality and Causes of Deaths	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za
Tourism and Migration	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za
Registered Births	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za
Marriages and Divorces	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 ramadimetjaM@statssa.gov.za
Living Conditions Survey	Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. rikaDP@statssa.gov.za	Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 thabomol@statssa.gov.za
Income and Expenditure Survey	Nozipho Shabalala (Chief Director ) 012 310 6994 082 904 8896 Noziphos@statssa.gov.za	Werner Ruch (Director) 012 310 6318 082 906 7967 wernerr@statssa.gov.za