The Outlier

🧶 Messy data, clean insights? Let’s be honest: cleaning data isn’t the most glamorous part of working with it, even though we know it’s essential for uncovering stories. Typos, inconsistent formats, duplicates and rogue column headers… We’ve all been there. There are almost as many approaches to cleaning data as there are types of messy data. What is your approach? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments. #DataCleaning #DataTraining #TheOutlier #DataCommunication

Data is the story of people. Last month, we launched ‘The Road to a Just Energy Transition – A road trip through five of South Africa's provinces’ last month. As our most ambitious project yet, this journey explores the risks and opportunities of transitioning to cleaner energy. ⚡️ Explore The Road to a Just Energy Transition here: https://lnkd.in/d8aWtczf We took a data-first approach and the resulting standalone website includes loads of charts, a timeline as well as interviews, vignettes and photographs by respected South African journalists. Join the journey: 🚂 Komati, Mpumalanga: What happens when SA’s oldest power plant is decommissioned? 🏙️ Melrose Arch, Gauteng: How one of Joburg’s wealthiest business districts took control of its own power. 🧼 Prieska, Northern Cape: The clean energy potential from a small town. 💰 Cape Town, Western Cape: Is the city’s feed-in scheme sustainable? 🌬️ Cookhouse, Eastern Cape: The community empowered by SA’s first wind farm to connect to the grid. Many months of hard work and late nights was poured into this project and thank you to everyone involved – especially the data wranglers at The Outlier. We could do all of this, thanks to the support of the @pulitzercenter. Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts, or email us on hello@theoutlier.co.za

A decade ago, only 17% of Gauteng residents surveyed by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory relied on private cars for their most frequent trips. Today, that figure has increased by nearly 60%, with 27% now driving, despite the high costs of car ownership. Meanwhile, public transport use continues to fall. In 2013, 7% of respondents used buses and trains; now, it’s less than 2%. Minibus taxi usage has also declined, dropping from 45% to 38% of respondents. One notable shift: Walking as a primary means of transport has grown, with 22% of respondents now choosing this option. The GCRO surveyed more than 13,700 people last year, and double that in 2013, offering a comprehensive look at how transport habits have shifted over time. 📊 Check out the chart below to see how Gauteng’s travel habits have changed. What are your thoughts on these trends? #DataVisualization #TransportTrends #Gauteng #UrbanPlanning #DataViz #DataInsights

#OurWorldInCharts How much do Gauteng residents spend on transport? The latest survey from the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) shows that the amount spent by people living in the province varies widely, with respondents reporting spending anything between zero and R9,500 a month. The median spend is R500. Here’s a breakdown of respondents' reported spending by mode of transport for the ‘longest part of the most frequent trip’: 🚗 Car drivers (27% of respondents): Median spend is R2,000 a month 🚝 Gautrain commuters: Also spend a median of R2,000. 🚐 Minibus taxi users (38%): The most common mode, with a median spend of R350 🚌🚂 Bus and train users: Spend slightly more than taxi commuters, though these modes are less commonly used The GCRO data was collected across Gauteng from more than 13,700 residents. What are your thoughts on the transport landscape in Gauteng? Drop your insights below! 👇

Incoming! 🛠 New features, new datasets and new ways of seeing – Outlier Insights is levelling up. 👀 Subscribe for the latest: https://lnkd.in/d76s_9dQ

Three new products – which some may describe as essential! – have been added to The Outlier's Consumer Price Dashboard: baked beans, potato crisps and beer. (We all remember what happened in 2020/21, right?) Each month we update the dash with the latest CPI prices from Statistics South Africa. We're currently tracking 25 products – let us know in the comments below if there's anything we should add to the list. 👀 Browse our Consumer Price Dashboard here: https://lnkd.in/dfPrEAjm #DataViz #DataInsights #CostOfLiving

#OurWorldInCharts: Transport costs in Gauteng The latest province-wide survey by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) shows that transport expenses for many residents have risen significantly since 2017. 🚗 In 2017, 12% of residents spent between R1,000 and R2,000 a month on transport. By 2023, this had risen to 17% 🚗 The proportion spending more than R2,000 a month tripled – from 4% in 2017 to 13% in 2023 🚗 Altogether, nearly one in three residents now spend more than R1,000 a month on transport Even accounting for inflation and the rising cost of living in general, these figures highlight the increasing financial strain of getting around in Gauteng. Except for those with no transport costs, a smaller proportion of people are spending less than R1,000 a month on transport. One reason for this shift may be the growing number of people driving private cars. What do you think could be done to address some of the transport challenges in Gauteng? Let us know in the comments👇 #DataInsights #TransportCosts #Gauteng #DataViz

Whether you’re a data pro or just starting out, OpenRefine can be a game-changer for cleaning and organising data efficiently. Gemma Gatticchi has put together a video series to guide you step-by-step through mastering this powerful tool. In the first video: ✔️ How to download and install OpenRefine ✔️ How to merge multiple files into a single dataset WATCH IT HERE: https://lnkd.in/dqU3C4rk In the second video: ✔️ The version history tool – your safety net for undoing errors ✔️ How to detect and delete duplicate data entries easily WATCH IT HERE: https://lnkd.in/dAT93eJA There's more to come. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/dda6ubEi #DataTraining #DataTips #DataTools #OpenRefine #DataInsights #WorkingWithData

📊 SEVEN NEW CHARTS: We dive into how Gauteng residents are getting around – and at what cost Our latest newsletter unpacks the latest Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) survey, which reveals how transport spending and habits are changing in South Africa's most-populous province. 👉 Don't miss the full story. Sign up to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dcD7bThk Key takeaways from the 2023/4 GCRO survey: * Nearly one in three residents now spend over R1,000 a month on transport, up from 16% in 2017's survey * Cars are gaining popularity, with 27% of people surveyed now driving, despite being the costliest option * Minibus taxi usage is down among those surveyed but remains the most-common mode of transport at 38%, with a median spend of just R350 * Gender disparities persist: more women rely on minibus taxis, while men dominate as car drivers Curious about how these shifts connect to rising costs, socioeconomic status and changing urban dynamics? We unpacked it in our Friday newsletter, which you can read on our website: https://lnkd.in/d-8aCSxE

This week's The Outlier newsletter is a deep dive into transport in Gauteng by Ro Manoim based on the excellent and extensive data from the latest Quality of Life(QoL) survey from Gauteng City-Region Observatory. It's a longer than usual newsletter (7 charts) but well worth a read. Thanks to Graeme Gotz Christian Hamann Shamsunisaa Miles-Timotheus and the rest of the GCRO team for the data and the generous help. The QoL survey is extensive so we decided to focus just on the transport but looking forward to doing more on this in the future. But, if you're interested in how Gauteng residents get around, how much they spend and their most used transport types check out the newsletter for all the charts https://lnkd.in/dcBb9A6d And subscribe for future issues.