SAX Appeal leaves motorists spaced out

Gloomy weather didn't deter scores of UCT students on the annual SAX Appeal blitz on 13 February. Motorists around the Cape peninsula were cajoled and serenaded into parting with R20 in exchange for a copy of the famous - some would say infamous - magazine.

More than 1 500 students took to the streets in space-themed regalia in the annual attempt to raise money for the student-run non-profit organisation, SHAWCO. With the help of 1 500 volunteers annually, SHAWCO runs five community centres and more than fifteen health and education projects.

This year's futuristic theme, Space SAX, is centred around Cape Town being the World Design Capital for 2014, with its slogan: "Live design. Transform life."

Mayor of the City of Cape Town Patricia De Lille was up in the wee hours to purchase a copy of SAX Appeal and chat to vendors, reviving a decades-old tradition

Frankie A'Bear, chairperson of Remember and Give, or RAG, (SHAWCO's fundraising arm) writes in this year's edition that "not only are we around to hand over a cheque to SHAWCO every year, but we give our students an experience that one cannot hope to find elsewhere."

She adds: "We're here for the best cause there is: to have fun with the bonus of it benefitting a group of people who really need it."

This year, 35 000 copies of the magazine were printed, and RAG were hoping to sell at leas 25 000 of these on 13 February, says, Joash Gabriel, RAG project manager. The effort raises more than R600 000 for SHAWCO Education, adds Gabriel.

Julia Norrish, president of SHAWCO, was grateful to those that bought a copy of SAX Appeal.

"By purchasing this year's edition of SAX Appeal, you have aided us in furthering our vision and mission - thank you."

The disclaimer at the bottom of the contents page is a clue to the tone of much of what lays in wait for readers: "The views expressed in SAX Appeal are not necessarily those of RAG, SHAWCO, The University of Cape Town, the advertisers, or even the authors themselves. We are a student-run publication trying to make people smile and raise money for charity".

Well, there you have it.

Story: Yusuf Omar. Image: Michael Hammond.