The Big Issue #316

March – April 2023

While our backs were turned, our sacred seas have been allocated for oil and gas mining. New developments in this area are shocking, but South Africans are fighting back. Read our special Ocean Issue, with Guest Editor Dr Dylan McGarry. The magazine is available to purchase from our vendors across Cape Town CBD and suburbs and nationally in select Spar and Pick n Pay stores.

Save Our Oceans

The outrageous ocean grabbing situation, no thanks to the South African government, are enabling foreign firms to raid our deep seas and coastlines for highly profitable gas (and oil). These actions are being both justified and defended. The situation is, in part, under current litigation. We report on some of the key stories so far with special thanks to GroundUp reporters.

Unlocking Ocean Mysteries

Deep-sea researchers set off from East London recently to gain a better understanding of what needs to be done to protect our oceans. The young southern African scientists will collect data in outer shelf and deep-sea habitats.
NRF-SAIAB, SANBI, UCT and Glasgow’s University of Strathclyde/ One Ocean Hub
have launched the deep-sea research project which will deepen offshore research
capacity in South Africa.

Incapable in Ekurhuleni

The Big Issue brings you vital news from Fanie Mthumpha reporting for the
Benoni City Times on the area of Ekurhuleni – the East Rand in Gauteng. One of the most vital economic metropoles and vast aerotropolis, Ekurhuleni (meaning ‘place of peace’ in Tsonga) looks like an apocalyptic war-zone due to non-services to the area. Here, political parties, ANC and EFF particularly, are indulging in ongoing political squabbles and in-fighting in an abuse of power. The provision of services hangs in the balance, as the continuing political vacuum in the metro worsens the already crippled delivery of services.

The Human Library – unjudge someone

There’s a place you can go to rent a ‘human book’. The Human Library is a place where real people are on loan to readers. A place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered and where people who are marginalised, discriminated against or who have a personal story to tell (even a positive one), are available to ‘readers’ in a non-judgmental forum.

Enter And Win! A Family Package For Four To The Circus – Win Four Tickets To Watch Vooma! Worth R500

Win four tickets to watch VOOMA!, the latest show brought to you by Zip-Zap Circus. Email entries to: liam.marinus@mikatekomedia.co.za by 30 April 2023.

Get in touch
As always, we value your feedback and would love to hear from you on this and other features in the magazine. Send your comments to bigissue@mikatekomedia.co.za