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 SA

Good things… • Does good news sell? According to the founder of Good Things Guy and our guest editor this issue, Brent Lindeque, yes! Enjoy the read and happy holidays.

*NEKNOMINATION - A GAME CHANGER

MEET OUR WATERFRONT VENDORS • Our vendors operate as entrepreneurs. They buy Big Issue magazines in bulk and sell them to you, the reader. Their sole earnings are profits made from each magazine they sell. We appeal to you to donate to our vendors’ wish lists below, enabling them to further their opportunities in life. If you can make a dream come true, please reach out to us. The Big Issue is an international social enterprise, creating opportunities to end poverty and exclusion around the world.

Power of your purchase • Christmas is a time for giving. And, as we enter a space of generosity, we ask individuals, families, and businesses to give to those who are less privileged.

Vendors of the world LIFE EXPERIENCE • Mr Ueda started selling The Big Issue Japan at the age of 54 after feeling the sudden deterioration of his body and quitting his job as a system engineer. He says he finds it mind-boggling that just by standing in front of Osaka’s JR Ibaraki Station, he meets so many different people he had never interacted with before and now finds the fun in the experience.

A VENDOR IN EUROPE • Sameera Failla, 62, sells Surprise in Bülach, Switzerland at Migros Sonnenhof. Surprise is a street publication, affiliated with the International Network of Street Papers, of which The Big Issue South Africa is one. After her journey from Eritrea to Sudan, Sameera settled in Switzerland. She spent the first period of her journey in an asylum centre and later experienced further health problems. This is her story.

DISABILITY DOESN’T COUNT • Jelena Radeta is a vendor of the street paper Liceulice in Belgrade, Serbia. Despite all medical diagnoses she received, starting with the doctor’s recommendation that her parents leave her in an institution, to the inadequate therapy she received in the early days, she has a positive outlook. She now works two jobs and is one of the most experienced vendors of Liceulice magazine. She proudly points out that the wishes of people with disabilities are no different from anyone else’s – to find a permanent job and start a family.

AUTHORS SAY: Oh William! • Elizabeth Strout is the Pulitzer prize-winning, bestselling author of My Name is Lucy Barton. She chatted with Lauren McDiarmid about her [new]novel, the 2022 Booker Prize-shortlisted Oh William!, which sees the much-anticipated return of the beloved character, Lucy. Find out what made her continue with the series, and about her inspiration to become a writer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Koos Bekker’s Billions • It doesn’t get bigger than Naspers and the billions Koos Bekker made from it. There is plenty to learn from South Africa’s most interesting entrepreneur, says TJ Strydom, financial journalist, game-show enthusiast and author of Koos Bekker’s Billions.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hope dealers • Apart from working as a writer, radio host and public speaker, Brent Lindeque is also a ‘change maker’, wading through the murk of media stories like a giant in boots, kicking to the floor fearful news, segueing his own special brand of happiness as The...