Data Analytics Hub

The OPM Data Science Unit, founded in late 2017, combines analytical rigor with public service to help the City of Cape Town make data-driven decisions. Since welcoming our first team member in April 2018, we’ve continuously built and adapted our infrastructure to meet real-world challenges. Our multidisciplinary team transforms complex datasets into actionable insights, driving efficiency and transparency across city operations.

Over the years we have built our stack piece by piece, choosing tools and processes that meet real needs rather than theoretical ideals. From ingesting raw data from civic systems to deploying machine learning models at scale, we manage every step of the pipeline in house. We rely on cloud platforms, open-source libraries and robust governance standards to keep our work reliable, reproducible and secure. Each new project follows a consistent template for kickoff, data validation, stakeholder feedback and delivery, so nothing falls through the cracks.

Collaboration and continuous improvement lie at the heart of our culture. We document every workflow, share code openly and gather feedback from across the organisation to ensure our solutions remain relevant. Whether remote or in person, we meet regularly to share learnings, troubleshoot roadblocks and celebrate wins. Code reviews and pair programming are standard practice, ensuring quality and spreading expertise. We invest in on-the-job mentoring to help everyone grow their skills. As challenges evolve, we adapt together, always focusing on maximising impact, upholding the public trust and fostering a supportive environment.