THE BIG ISSUE #354 is out NOW and with the change of season, for this month’s art session the theme is Spring. In the outer world we see flowers blossoming and the sun brings warmth.
Spring can also be a time of new beginnings, a time to make inner changes and acknowledge your growth
Xolisa Ntunta
Xoliswa Ntunta is the featured Vendor Artist in THE BIG ISSUE #354
Xoliswa Ntunta – Was born in Maclear/Nqanqarhu Eastern Cape into a family of five boys and two girls. She attended school and completed Standard 9. In 1981 she married and relocated to Cape Town, where she worked as a domestic worker for two years. In 1983 and 1984, she returned to the Eastern Cape and stayed in Zwelitsha, where she gave birth to her children.
In 1986, she returned to Cape Town and lives in Khayelitsha with her husband, 6 children, and grandchildren. Her husband was previously a Big Issue Vendor, and she has been a Big Issue Vendor for 22 years.
Before becoming a vendor she worked at a nursery in Stellenbosch and at a bamboo factory sewing curtains. Her long-term goal is to strengthen her sewing and beading skills and establish her own sewing business as a source of income.
Xoliswa attends the Big Issue art sessions regularly, her work has often been featured in the magazine and has sold paintings. She sells the magazine at Constantia Village.
Her painting is titled: “Fruit Tree”.
Xoliswa Ntunta, Fruit Tree
The other Vendor Artists
- Elsie Ntsini – Spring flower
- Solomon Masoso – Sprouting petals
- Yoliswa Vanda – My Home
- Zoliwe Makhafana – Beautiful flower
- Thabo Ntloko – Aloe Vera
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- Elsie Ntsini
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- Solomon Masoso_
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- Yoliswa Vanda
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- Zoliwe Makhafana
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- Thabo Ntloko
We are delighted to see the article “Like A Windsong”, about the 32nd Cape Town International Kite Festival that takes place on 24 and 25 October at Youngsfield Military Base in Ottery, This Spring Event is hosted by Cape Mental Health with its message of hope, resilience and connection!
Bridging the cashless divide
The Big Issue #342 introduced you to ‘Empowering South Africa’s informal economy with Tip4Change‘. You can do a good deed:
• Use QR codes to pay informal workers without carrying cash
• Keep apps like SnapScan or Zapper ready for small transactions
The cost of the artwork is R350.00 – R300 goes to the Artist R50 to the art programme.
To acquire a work E elainemillin.art@gmail.com. The work can also be see at the Noordhoek Art Point Gallery. “Pop in, have a look, and help support our local stars”
WHAT: Vendor Artists – THE BIG ISSUE #354
WHERE: Available from your favourite vendor across the city. Anyone outside the city of Cape Town can buy the magazine nationally at selected Spar and Pick n Pay stores. Anyone outside of Cape Town can also buy the magazine here.
Don’t forget: you can buy The Big Issue with your smartphone! Visit for a step-by-step guide.
INFO: E bigissue@mikatekomedia.co.za | Visit | Editorial: Editor Ingrid Jones, 021-461-6690 | Advertising/Marketing: Derek Carelse at derekcarelse@mweb.co.za | See also Cape Town Green Map
The WHAT, WHY & WHERE of the
arts scene in around Cape Town
see the 2026 art craft + museums map
and listen in to the
Arts Round Up on Fridays @12:45
on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3fm
The FMR App makes it even easier to tune into the Arts Round Up on Fridays! i-Phone HERE | Android HERE
Another reason Cape Town is placed 3rd in Time Out’s World’s Best Cities for Culture!
