The Big Issue

High quality, varied and entertaining content for readers across age, culture, religion, gender and other demographics. Stories include reporting on local and international happenings with a ‘bigger issue’ about an individual, and unusual news or events that impact us all. The Big Issue shares in-depth interviews with local and international celebrities, artists, change-makers and thought leaders. It also focuses on local people or organisations committed to making positive changes in society – intent on finding innovative ways to effect change.

The Big Issue

From our MD, Derek Carelse

From our new Editor, Ingrid Jones

MEET OUR VENDORS • Donations of building materials, a stove, and groceries are just some of the items that would make a difference to our vendors. If you have any spare items stashed at home, please get in touch.

The precious gift of hearing • One of our most vital senses, hearing is intricately connected to our ability to communicate, learn, and interact with the world, says Dr Lucretia Petersen, Division of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Past President of the South African Association for Audiologists (SAAA).

Bo-Kaap hotel verdict • Residents are opposed to the development overshadowing the oldest mosque in the country.

Your legacies are preserved here • A poet’s meaningful experience in co-writing a new commemorative verse for the Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial.

Beading – a story of hope • With a mission to help transform society through the creation of jobs and supporting charities, R80 million has been raised for social impact through the sale of more than 4.4 million handmade bracelets since the inception of Relate Bracelets, with plans to keep on helping others.

R1.4 billion sales over festive season at the V&A Waterfront • Everyone’s favourite Mother City tourism hotspot welcomed more than 3 million visitors in December 2024, cementing its status as one of South Africa’s premier festive season destinations.

A knotty habit • From teaching coding through knitting to using it as a way to commune with the ancestors, there's more to this fibre craft than meets the eye.

Celebrating my food obsession and culinary journey • Welcome to my world, a flavourful and vibrant universe where food is not just sustenance but an obsession.

The Cape of good choice • Those of us who were born and raised in Cape Town tend to take for granted the beauty and easy practicality of living every day on a peninsula with a world-class port city on our doorstep.

AFRICAN BORDERS: Khartoum A travel series • Over a period of about 30 years, I, because of the type of work I was doing at the time, visited more than 30 African countries. My travels would often take me to places that few foreigners ever visit, obscure small towns in remote border areas and cities you won't find in holiday brochures. I now spend my time between the Netherlands, the country of my birth, and South Africa, the country of my heart.

Self-improvement, one strike at a time • It’s an exciting time at Karate Samurai, a dojo (martial arts hall) situated in Bergvliet. Several of the students have qualified to attend the Karate World Championships to be held in Helsinki, Finland in June. We visited to find out more.

Face2Face • What happened to meeting friends and loved ones in person? Despite giving the impression that our phones connect us to other people, they tend to do the opposite.

[ THE BIG ISSUE ]

Wishing for a fish

HOPE DESPITE THE DARK • Our Big Issue vendors enjoy art sessions hosted by Elaine Millin, our art facilitator. The art theme for our vendors in November was ‘exploring wishes and prayers for the new year’, inspired by the colours of prayer flags representing the elements, sky, air, fire, water, earth.