Table of contents for Issue 325 2024 in The Big Issue

Let's dive straight into 2024 with an ode to ‘Amazing South Africans’. First, a big thank you to all those who have donated to The Big Issue. We are halfway to our target and mighty grateful! I'm currently stationed in Ireland for the moment, writing to you from afar. Something I've noticed as a South African abroad is that we love to talk about our achievements – we're a loud, opinionated bunch sometimes. Saffers recognise achievements at school. This is very different from Ireland, where many schools don't focus on medals, prize-giving, and contests. Might this contribute to a more even social middleclass for a less polarised South African society? The jury's out. Aside from that possible debate, achievements, no matter how big or small, are something we love to…

Author of Off-Centre and Out of Focus Nadia Kamies believes the concept of ‘colouredness’ is neither a biological nor an ethnic identity, but rather a result of apartheid engineering. Most information falls under some type of classification or the other. However, South African racial types worked as an apartheid tool and not simply a classification. And even in the present day, South Africans are unfortunately still bound by racial classification in the form of limitations in different ways. In her book, Nadia rejects both the label and the concept of a coloured race and considers herself a South African. She says, “The term coloured refers to people of mixed descent previously classified as such under the apartheid government …” Nadia says her desire to understand her own background and the…

Read the story and answer the questions. THE GRUBBIEST BOY Grubby King Goop was the grubbiest boy in the world. He was so grubby that flies followed him everywhere. His flies had flies. The dirt on his legs was like permanent stains. The bugs in his hair had lived a lifetime. Everyone laughed at him behind his back. But he ruled the land and demanded respect from the people. When he walked in town everyone would bow politely. “Does he ever bath?” they said. “We can smell his flies,” they whispered. But young Goop did not care what anyone said. He went on to rule the land for many years.…

To visit the gallery email onlerotholi@gmail.com 16 Lerotholi Avenue, Langa, Cape Town ‘Langa’ carries the poetic meaning of ‘sun’ in Xhosa, and the township is situated comfortably alongside the coniferlined streets of Pinelands. The gallery's collection of South African artworks is akin to those one might encounter at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam or the National Gallery in London. Breeze Yoko is a South Africa-based multidisciplinary artist and curator specialising in video/film and graffiti/ street art. Breeze has participated in the Berlinale Talent Campus (now Berlinale Talents), and in urban art projects in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Senegal, Germany, France, Sweden and many more countries, where his whimsical yet powerful murals depict a kind of humanity and beauty that reimagine their environments. In a search for new methods to ‘read the city’,…

We wish all our readers, customers, supporters and donors a huge, massive, ‘Big Year’ of Positivity and Wonderful Blessings. I feel I should convey that same sentiment to us at The Big Issue as we had a really tough 2023. Here's to a New Year wishing you all a much better one for each of you – don't we all need it considering the state of our country? Thank you to all our donors who have donated towards helping us recover from our October 2023‘Cybercrime Scam’. So far, named and anonymous donors have donated 54.4% of the R583 000 in total. Our appeal, therefore, must continue. We make a special appeal to companies who need some tax relief for their upcoming financial year ending in March 2024 to consider donating…

Murder he wrote From an intriguing interview with popular ‘whodunnit’ author Richard Osman, to more contentious non-fiction that bravely addresses difficult issues and feelings, these reads will not fail to grab your attention. “I love these characters and that's why I will keep writing them,” says Richard Osman. “But to be honest, the success somewhat baffles me. I wrote what I loved, what I would want to read. I never dreamed it would pay off so, you know, handsomely.” He knows that it sounds “ridiculous”, but he writes for the love of it. “I feel less alone when I write.” With the 2020 publication of Osman's debut novel, The Thursday Murder Club, the British author was propelled to overnight success. Suddenly, Steven Spielberg wanted the film rights, critics were enthusing…

The beginning of the year is an exciting time for most people. It signifies new chances, new beginnings and new opportunities. Everyone wishes for the new year to be better than the last in every way possible, be it financially, emotionally or physically. It is that time of the year when people make resolutions about how they envision and wish the year to be. We always encourage our vendors to set some resolutions for themselves, too, at the beginning of the year. During our January vendor meeting, we conducted personal development workshops with the vendors. We asked them to write down their goals for the year, how they wished to achieve them and the steps needed to achieve these goals. We always try and make these goals as realistic as…

Good Jem Bad Jem offers a searing analysis of the weaponisation of anti-Semitism in service of political objectives that support the Israeli state and global white supremacy. Looking specifically at the way in which language is used to shape identities, Steven Friedman uses many examples to illustrate how anyone who opposes the interests and policies of the Israeli state is increasingly defined as anti-Semitic. The use of anti-racist language to defend racial domination distorts not only the meaning of what it is to be Jewish, but sheds light on how all dogmatic nationalisms function. Steven references India and South Africa as examples, but the analysis applies globally. His non-fiction book is a detailed, deeply researched, and critical work that will appeal to both specialists and general readers looking for a…

SOURCE: THE SOUTH AFRICAN SHEEP SHEARING FEDERATION, A SASCOC-AFFILIATED NATIONAL SPORTING FEDERATION. South Africans Bonile Rabela and Zwelamoakhosi Mbuweni won gold and silver respectively in the Golden Shears Shearing and Woolhandling World Championships 2023 in Edinburgh last year. Competitors gathered from all over the world at The Golden Shears Championship to vie for the winning title, showcasing their skills and shearing styles. Representatives from 29 countries entered and South Africa beat New Zealand, Wales, Australia, England and Ireland. SA's Protea Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling Team comprised seven talented competitors led by team manager Izak Klooper. Uot only did the blade-shearing duo earn the winning title in their division, they also won individual titles. Bonile took individual gold and Zwelamakhosi, individual silver. Speaking to Goodthingsguy.com the South African Sheep Shearing…

MOVE TO DANCE SboNdaba Dance is tackling environmental issues through the power of performance. In the heart of our townships, SboNdaba Dance emerges as a beacon of change, utilising the emotional impact and transformative power of performance to address pressing environmental issues. As a registered non-profit company, its mission extends beyond the stage, aiming to create employment opportunities and professional platforms for underresourced performing artists. THE JOURNEY SboNdaba Dance embarked on a collaborative project with The Green Connection in 2022, an eco-justice non-profit organisation advocating for a voice in environmental decision-making processes. Together, they conceived Who Stole Our Oceans, a 15-minute performance activation shedding light on the threats faced by local fishermen due to seismic charges and oil exploration. The activation resonated beyond the stage, reaching over 1 000 learners…

Our Big Issue vendors enjoy art sessions hosted by Elaine Miilin, our Art Facilitator. In their most recent art session, the class was to imagine an inner garden of peace. All artworks featured on this page are for sale. Email info@bigissue.co.za to buy a specific piece or to donate items for art classes. Visit Elaine's website at www.bridgingpolarities.co.za…