The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has officially become a partner of the Taste of Cape Town festival. This significant collaboration aims to introduce audiences across the country to the atmosphere, sounds, and tastes of this two-day event.
The Taste of Cape Town festival is scheduled for November 28 and 29, 2026, and will take place at the Green Point Cricket Club stadium. It will gather leading chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, producers, and young culinary talents from South Africa.
Through this partnership, the public broadcaster will cover the festival before, during, and after using its television, radio, and digital platforms, including SABC Plus. This is expected to allow viewers outside Cape Town to experience the festival's atmosphere and learn about the people and businesses shaping South Africa's diverse culinary culture.
For SABC, this partnership goes beyond simply covering a culinary event; it reflects a belief that South Africa's culinary culture deserves a national platform, and that food remains an important means of community bonding.
The country's culinary culture spans a wide spectrum, from shisanyama-style dishes to world-class haute cuisine, with chefs, home cooks, winemakers, producers, and food entrepreneurs contributing to this history. Taste of Cape Town is part of the international Taste Festival portfolio, which includes cities such as London, Paris, São Paulo, and Dubai.
Temba Gvegela, Head of Corporate Affairs and Marketing at SABC, noted that this partnership aligns with the broadcaster's mandate to provide public service. He stated: 'SABC exists to serve all South Africans, and few things unite us like food,' adding that the country's culinary landscape is one of its 'greatest national assets.' He also emphasized the broadcaster's pride in creating a platform that will amplify the stories of chefs, winemakers, home cooks, and food entrepreneurs, making them accessible to audiences nationwide.
Bonke Shipalana, CEO of The Allure Group SA and licensee of the Taste Festival in South Africa, considers this partnership particularly significant due to SABC's long presence in the lives of South Africans. Shipalana clarified that Taste of Cape Town was never intended to be an event only for Cape Town residents, but rather an event capable of connecting people across the entire country. He said: 'With SABC by our side, grandma in Nkokonkwa, a student in Gqeberha, and a family in Gelshoven, everyone will experience the festival together.'
The partnership will also extend the festival's 'Feed Every Sense' campaign to communities outside Cape Town while drawing attention to the chefs, restaurants, and producers behind the event. Taste of Cape Town is positioned as a celebration of food, culture, and identity, and the partnership with SABC provides this celebration with a national audience.