Statistics SA will distribute 2.8 million posters bearing pictures of census takers before the census count begins, says Statistician-General Pali Lehohla.
The posters would be part of the "Know your Enumerator" campaign before Census 2011 began on October 10, he said on Wednesday.
The pictures would appear on street poles in the same way as election posters.
The posters would have the face of the individual counting in the area with his or her telephone number.
Lehohla said about 120 000 people would be counting South Africa's population and there would be about one poster for every eight households.
All census takers would be screened. There was an attempt to ensure that counters came from the communities where they would be active, but there had been difficulties obtaining counters from closed areas such as golf estates.
"I would be lying if I said it was smooth. It has been a roller coaster, but we are ready," Lehohla said.
The results of the census are expected in November this year.
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