The Big Issue South Africa

The Big Issue South Africa is a monthly general interest magazine sold by unemployed and marginalised people in Cape Town, South Africa. These vendors buy the magazine for R10 and sell it for R20, thus earning 50% of the cover price. To support themselves and their families. The non-profit organisation was founded in 1996 and has since helped 17 000 vendors to earn a combined income of approximately R19 million. Many vendors have, with the assistance of The Big Issue’s social development department, moved onto formal employment.

When you buy The Big Issue SA, you’re not only doing a good deed, you’re also getting an excellent and unique read. We report fearlessly, without favour and aim to raise in-depth awareness of issues big and small, while also offering arts & entertainment, opinion pieces, reviews, celebrity interviews and stunning photography.

If you are in an area of Cape Town where there is a vendor, please purchase the magazine direct from the vendor. Direct purchases from vendors are our priority, as magazine sales are vendors’ only means of income. Therefore this digital application has been created specifically to enable readers outside of Cape Town to read and enjoy the magazine and, in doing so, support The Big Issue. All profits from digital sales go directly to funding The Big Issue’s social development and job creation programmes [visit www.bigissue.org.za to find out more about programmes offered].