Dwelling Frame A geo-referenced dwelling frame is a complete, up-to-date database of all dwellings and other structures in the country. The location of each dwelling is determined, and the associated data relevant for statistical processes, such as drawing a sample, are recorded in a standard manner. Fundamental for the collection of accurate statistics is an accurate sampling frame, which is complete and updated in order to be used confidently for surveys and censuses. The vision for the geo-referenced dwelling frame is that it will become the sampling frame for household surveys and the frame for conducting population and housing censuses in South Africa, similar to the business frame supporting economic surveys and censuses. A quality census starts with knowledge of the whereabouts of all dwellings in the country, which enables every household to be visited, thus ensuring that every person in all parts of the country is counted. The geo-referenced dwelling frame will provide the exact locations of all dwellings and will be used for the delineation of enumeration areas, for the list of dwellings against which census data is collected, and for matching and cross-checking processed census records in the census post-enumeration survey. It is also imperative that a process of continuous maintenance be embarked on to ensure a complete, updated frame that meets the requirements for the survey programme for both household and economic statistical data. This continuous maintenance will streamline all related organisational activities requiring such a frame. The geo-referenced dwelling frame also has benefits for other organs of state, such as providing addresses for postal delivery by the South African Post Office, developing an authoritative address register that can be utilised by departments such as Home Affairs, meeting the requirements for FICA, and assisting with the improvement of service delivery at local municipality level. During 2005/2006 Statistics South Africa embarked on a pilot project in terms of the geo-referenced dwelling frame. With this pilot 15 municipalities located in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape were covered. Due to the success of the pilot project, it was decided to obtain up to date attribute data, through field inspection for another 23 municipalities. The majority of these municipalities are located in Limpopo with a few located in Northwest Province, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal. To ensure high quality output from the geo-referenced dwelling frame a detail specification document was compiled to ensure common standards.