Support our vendors

SUPPORT OUR BIG ISSUE VENDORS

The Big Issue is South Africa’s number one magazine and social enterprise, creating opportunities to end poverty and exclusion. Our vendors are those people who’ve taken steps to help themselves. The Big Issue can be purchased from vendors in the suburbs of Cape Town, or from select Spar or Pick n Pay stores nationally.

To donate a wish list item to our vendors, email placements@bigissue.org.za

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Who: Alice Pina Ncata, vendor number 2320

Pitch: V&A Waterfront, entrance nine

Lives in: Gugulethu

How long selling TBI: More than 15 years

Needs: Alice needs help with building an extra room at the back of her house to create more space for her children and grandchildren. She is the head of her family, supporting three households. Her sisters have passed on and ever since this happened she has been their children and 10 grandchildren’s main breadwinner. She says she needs assistance taking care of her large extended family.

Ambition: To start a business or have sustainable income. Alice says she is getting old and has a problem with her knee. Going every day to sell magazines is getting increasingly difficult for her and she’d like to retire. She says that she doesn’t want to sit at home because she is not used to depending on people, and she is responsible for caring for her family. She doesn’t know what sort of business she would be able to get to have sustainable income, but she is open to exploring different options.

 V&A Breakwater entrance, close to Toy Kingdom

Who: Peter Hoshe, vendor number 2348

Pitch: V&A Breakwater entrance, close to Toy Kingdom

Lives in: Khayelitsha

How long selling TBI: Joined in 2007

Needs: Assistance with getting new glasses. Peter has some eye problems, and he would like to get his eyes tested and renew his glasses.
Ambition: Peter says it has always been his dream to be a businessman. He got inspiration for this ambition from his parents: his dad had a business selling firewood and his mom bought second-hand clothes and resold them in her community for profit. He would like to start a vegetable market.

Skills and experience: Peter has experience as a delivery man because he used to be employed by City Press in this role.

Dream job: Driver and delivery person