Open data initiatives have emerged as a critical tool for enhancing transparency and accountability in government operations. A qualitative analysis was conducted to evaluate current open data practices and their impact on public sector performance. Open data platforms have been implemented by three major South African municipalities with a combined coverage reaching approximately 40% of the population. The integration of open data in municipal governance has facilitated better citizen engagement and improved service delivery, though challenges remain in terms of data quality and public awareness. Further investment is recommended to ensure consistent data quality and increase public understanding of available information. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.