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

WELCOME ALL AGES • Welcome to the All Ages Vibe edition of The Big Issue!

A new SA? Or a new yawn?

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES ALL THIS POSSIBLE

SISTERS ARE DOING IT THEMSELVES • Our vendors face all kinds of hardships, but being a single parent stands out as one of the biggest challenges. Meet two moms (both their families’ sole breadwinners) who sell The Big Issue for a living in the Newlands area.

WINTER READS FIVE MINUTES WITH … SVEN AXELRAD • Sven Axelrad is seldom seen without his dog. His dog and a pen and piece of paper. How else would he be able to write down what is happening in the town of Vivo?

UNRAVELLING THE TRUTH • Markus Jooste, central to Steinhoff's collapse, faced parliament unrepentant. James-Brent Styan reflects on their encounter, Jooste's subsequent demise, and unanswered questions in this thought piece, that also urges vigilance and awareness of the real risk involved in daily dealings.

LISTEN FOR THE LIE • Amy Tintera is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels for young adults. Listen for the Lie is her adult debut. She chats here about structuring the book around a podcast, and balancing humour and romance with crime and mystery.

Bughouse visits • Writing exclusively for The Big Issue, Herman Lategan reflects on a bygone era of cinema. Before TV existed in South Africa, there were tonnes of shady and wonderful bughouses all over the country that provided endless escapism. Herman longs to revisit these cinemas from his childhood in Cape Town.

THE LEGACY OF ERNEST COLE • A new film by Raoul Peck uncovering the life, work, and legacy of the late South African photographer and apartheid activist, Ernest Cole, has won a top documentary prize. The film features Ernest's body of work which is exhibited worldwide. These images, gifted to The Big Issue by Magnum Photos, honour South African Youth Day as we remember the struggles of apartheid.

Our universe is sooo big! • How many planets can you count? Colour in the different planets.

Book Power • The whole world opens up for you when you learn to read

ELDER POWER • We use the terms Boomer, Gen Z, Millennial and Gen X to describe people born during certain times. Further than that, we should really forget the stereotyping used by marketers to target their demographic. The following articles put to rest any fixed beliefs and ideas about the limitations of age.

Gogos Strike Back • Alexandra grannies trade knitting needles for boxing gloves. They attend boxing classes once a week as part of a project called GOGOBox.

STANDING OVATION • In a goosebump moment, ot a backdrop of roaring applause and comments like “you're the one to beat”, “incredible” and “flawless”, South African opera singer Nkululeko Innocent Masuku won the public vote and was the first to be put through to the finals of Britain's Got Talent. He recently competed in the finals in Season 17 coming close to a near win, which for a virtually unknown performer, is gold dust.

How empathy is passed through generations

Infusing excellence one cuppa at a time • A young entrepreneur turns her love for tea into a booming business

FUTURE ADULTS OF 2035 • Snippets of stories reflecting shifting...