Vendors in the Hood – Newlands Cape Town
October 21, 2021
Support our vendors
January 28, 2022
Vendors in the Hood – Cape Town
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.
Who?
Shadrack Rolihlahla, vendor number: 0954
Where?
Corner of Main and Glengariff Roads, Sea Point.
From?
Lives in Delft
Dream job?
To be a driver
Joined The Big Issue:
In 1998 from the Eastern Cape.
About:
Shadrack says, “I am nothing without The Big Issue.” The magazine has played a pivotal role in his life and given him motivation to carry on every day. He has learnt life lessons through selling the magazine, which include: never to give up, respect people, be polite when talking to customers and to work for himself. He says whenever he sells the magazine, he tries to represent it well through his behaviour. He has passed on the legacy of selling The Big Issue to his wife Babalwa. Both sell the magazine on the same pitch. He describes himself as a person who loves people.
Children:
One daughter and a grandson who he supports. He lost his son to a shooting in 2017 in Delft.
Hopes and dreams?
Shadrack finished school in standard three and he would like to resume again to perfect his spoken and written English.
Who?
Xoliswa Ntunta, vendor number: 1177
Where?
Constantia Village
From?
Khayelitsha
About:
Started selling in Sea Point before she moved to Constantia Village. Some of her children were once vendors at The Big Issue. Her magazine sales paid for school fees for
one of her daughters and helped her to earn a home-based qualification. The Big Issue has helped her to gain various skills apart from helping her earn some money.
Children:
Xoliswa has six children. Three boys, three girls and also 11 grandchildren.
Hopes and dreams:
To finish extending her RDP house and putting a gate in front of it. Her niece is in first year at University of Cape Town and is in need of a laptop and she’d like help with that. Xoliswa would also want to acquire a sewing machine for herself to make wonder bags, a skill she gained through The Big Issue. She makes the bags by hand and would like to upgrade.
