By NOXOLO DLAMINI
MAYIWANE – The Republic of China (Taiwan) has donated 120 bags of rice, two wheelchairs and 10 walking sticks to Mayiwane constituency to assist vulnerable residents struggling with poverty following severe storms that affected the area.
The donation was officially handed over at Mayiwane Inkhundla on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, by Acting Minister of the Taiwan Embassy, Mr Carlos Lin, in an initiative aimed at providing relief to communities facing difficult living conditions. The handover was attended by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mayiwane, the Indvuna yenkhundla, bucopho, community leaders and residents.
Speaking after receiving the donation on behalf of the Inkhundla, MP Sicelo ‘KhungaNkhosi’ Dlamini expressed appreciation for the support, highlighting the difficult circumstances facing residents following the severe storms that hit the area.
Dlamini said the donation came at a critical time when many households were struggling with poverty, which has been worsened by high unemployment and the impact of the storms.
“It was a great pleasure today to receive, on behalf of Mayiwane Inkhundla, the rice donation from the Republic of China (Taiwan). The rice will go a long way in supporting development projects around Mayiwane. It comes at a time when our people are facing high levels of poverty caused by high unemployment. We thank our partners for such a good and wonderful gesture,” he said.
He said the assistance would go a long way towards supporting vulnerable residents and responding to some of the pressing needs within the community.
The MP further expressed gratitude to Taiwan for extending a helping hand to Mayiwane, describing the donation as a welcome gesture that would provide relief to residents experiencing hardship.
Dlamini explained that the donated rice would be distributed to the most vulnerable members of the community, taking into account the widespread need for assistance.
He, however, acknowledged that although many residents were in dire need, the available donation would not be sufficient to reach everyone who required support.
The MP said the council was yet to meet to establish the criteria that would guide the selection of beneficiaries and ensure that the assistance reached those most in need.
“We understand that everyone is in dire need, but not everyone will receive the donation. We are still to sit as a council to come up with the criteria that will guide the distribution,” he explained.
The selection process is expected to help the council identify households requiring urgent assistance, particularly those whose livelihoods have been affected by the severe weather conditions and persistent economic challenges.
The two wheelchairs and 10 walking sticks are also expected to provide support to beneficiaries with mobility needs, although the specific arrangements for their allocation had not yet been outlined.
The donation highlights the role of partnerships between development partners and local communities in responding to humanitarian needs. For Mayiwane, the assistance offers relief at a time when residents continue to face the combined challenges of unemployment, poverty and the effects of severe storms.
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