City budgets, Christmas drinks and a special guest speaker Raymond Joseph

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Journalists, writers, data scientists and developers: want to use your powers for good and learn how technology, reporting and civic activism intersect? Keen to find out how entrepreneurial storytellers are creating tools that bring narrative to public data and in doing so, democratise it?

Whether you're a regular member or a curious newcomer, we'd like you to join Hacks/Hackers Johannesburg for a special last-of-the-year festive meet-up at JoziHub on Tuesday 6th December at 6pm. We've had a busy and very successful 2016, and we'd like to finish it off with an awesome couple of hours of information, catch-up and networking before Joburg heads into its traditional December lull.

First up, we've got a special speaker in the form of former ICFJ/Knight Fellow Raymond Joseph (https://twitter.com/rayjoe). Joseph is the very definition of an entrepreneurial journalist and one of the country's leading specialists in data-driven storytelling and journalism.

A veteran with four decades in the industry, Joseph is currently head of the media programme at Code for South Africa, a non-profit civic tech organisation which uses data and tech to promote informed decision-making that drives social change.

Joseph will be talking about Code for South Africa's latest free tools for journalists and researchers. Municipal Money (https://municipalmoney.gov.za/) is a detailed breakdown of the audited details of the finances of every municipality in South Africa in an easy to use format. OpenGazettes (http://opengazettes.org.za/) is a vital tool which makes South Africa’s national and provincial government gazettes easily searchable and available for free.

As well as Joseph's talk on Code for South Africa, we'll also be catching up on the latest from our current flagship project, #HackTheConstitution. This began in May as an investigation in to the best way to turn the text of South Africa's world-renowned Constitution into a living document that was easily accessible and understandable by all, and as yet another series of national discussions about the relevance of this amazing document kicks off is more needed than ever.

And finally, we'll be rounding off with drinks at the Beer Yard in 44 Stanley. The first round is on us.