The Big Issue Magazine

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Derek Carelse, Desireé Johnson, Gadija Gamieldien, Marlinee Chetty Managing Director: Derek Carelse Advertising, Fundraising & CSI: Derek Carelse Email: [email protected] Social Media: Facebook (www.facebook.com/BigIssueSA) T

We chose to feature local photographer Obie Oberholzer on our cover this issue. A former professor of photography at Rhodes, Obie is a photographic legend revered by his former students (many of whom are today's media stalwarts) – his work is renowne

A new report by the United Nations (UN) estimates 339 million people (or one in 23) around the world currently need emergency assistance to survive. This is a rise of nearly 20% since 2021. An estimated 222 million people won't know when or if they w

“It is tough writing a book on a controversial subject knowing, as worthy as it may be, you are on a hiding to nothing. Nearly a decade of commenting on government policy as well as juggling the lives and egos of the rich and powerful as the editor o

How has your acting work informed your novel-writing? I wish I could say something like it allowed easy psychological insight into characters … but it took a while for me to get there! I think where it did maybe help was conceptualising scenes in ter

When Grace Tame appears on the Zoom screen, she is in a hotel room. At the time of this interview, the 27 year old is nearing the end of a two-week national tour, travelling to seven cities around Australia to promote her new book, in conversation wi

Adriaan Snyman writes about Die Sieners visions:

Obie Oberholzer: “The sound of the gunshots was deafening. Deadly thuds of bullets smashing into Ouma Roos Cloete's head, a ricocheting madness of cordite, flying glass from smashed booze bottles, a downpour of brandy, vodka and whisky. I was awakene

His life, in his own words: “I went to Stellenbosch University and became reckless and exuberant. I studied graphic design, drinking, dancing, rugby and athletics. I was made aware that cameras can produce images; I fell in love with photography and

Our obsession with celebrity is centred around the search for the ‘authentic’ person behind the manufactured persona in pop videos. The Beyoncé (2013) visual album was a sign of the increasing personal intimacy of Beyoncé's stardom, and her transitio

In many languages the names of the months of the year are related to nature, the seasons and farming. In this art session our vendors worked with an important memory of a special person in their lives, and of their childhoods and nature. They imagine