Cape Town's food relief efforts boosted by Taipei Liaison Office donation

For the third year in a row, the City of Cape Town has received a multi-tonne food donation from the Taipei Liaison Office, strengthening efforts to provide immediate food relief to vulnerable communities across the metro.

The donation was formally handed over on 10 February 2026 as part of a 13-year partnership between the City and the Liaison Office. Acting on behalf of the City, Chief Whip of Council Desiree Visagie accepted the contribution, describing it as a meaningful response to growing food insecurity.

Under the leadership of the Taipei Liaison Office’s Director-General Lily Chen, the latest donation includes four tonnes of rice — equivalent to 136 bags — as well as two tonnes of fresh butternut. The fresh produce was contributed by local Taiwanese donor Bodhi Park.

“The relationship between the City and the Taipei Liaison Office is one that has been carefully nurtured over many years,” Visagie said. “It is a partnership defined not only by its longevity – now extending beyond a decade – but by its substance comprising shared values, mutual respect and a clear commitment to uplifting communities through tangible action.”

She said the timing of the donation was particularly significant, as Cape Town continues to face mounting pressure following recent fires that displaced families and left many residents without access to basic necessities, including food.

“In these moments of crisis, food security becomes an urgent and immediate concern,” Visagie said. “For our most vulnerable residents, these donations represent not only sustenance, but reassurance that they have not been forgotten.”

According to the City, the food supplies will be distributed through its food relief initiatives and community feeding programmes, supporting households affected by displacement, poverty and rising living costs. Staples such as rice provide affordable and reliable nutrition, while fresh vegetables contribute to more balanced meals.

Visagie said the donation also highlighted the value of international partnerships in responding to local hardship.

“What we acknowledge today goes beyond the value of the food itself. It reflects a shared understanding that social responsibility is collective, and that compassion, when paired with action, has the power to restore dignity and hope,” she said.

She extended the City’s gratitude to the Taipei Liaison Office, Bodhi Park and all those involved in facilitating the donation, also acknowledging the City’s Speaker, Felicity Purchase, and the role such partnerships play in supporting residents most in need.

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