New urban beekeeping by-law in Tshwane aims to enhance residential safety

The City of Tshwane has approved a new by-law regulating beekeeping in urban areas, citing growing concerns over the health risks posed by bees in increasingly dense residential neighbourhoods. 

Obakeng Ramabodu, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Agriculture Management, expressed hopes that the new by-law will help mitigate the risks associated with urban beekeeping as the city's residential areas continue to grow in density.

He stated that the approval of the reviewed by-law regulating urban beekeeping is essential to balance the keeping of bees in urban areas with the health and safety of city residents.

While bees play a crucial role in food security by pollinating plants, fruits, and vegetables, Ramabodu noted that bees such as the African honeybees can also be fatal and attack humans and animals if disturbed, aggravated, or agitated.

He said: “As such, humans who are allergic to bee stings may die from the attacks of these bees if they are not treated immediately. Most residential areas are becoming denser, and the keeping of these bees on small properties creates a health risk for neighbouring properties.”

He encouraged beekeepers to locate their beehives in areas that do not pose a health risk to nearby residents.

“This by-law will control the keeping of beehives in residential areas. The by-law excludes the keeping of bees on any nature reserves, natural open spaces, agricultural land, and any other property zoned for beekeeping,” he said.

He explained that the by-law promotes the use of catch boxes to safely relocate bees that have become a nuisance in residential areas, and its implementation will help protect residents' rights.

The new by-law follows a call by the Freedom Front Plus last year for Tshwane to urgently review and amend its outdated municipal by-law on residential beekeeping.

Party councillor Mari Joubert said: “The by-law was last reviewed in 2005, and the FF Plus frequently receives complaints from residents about neighbours keeping bees, which poses a possible danger to people and their pets. Also, beehives may not be randomly destroyed.”

She had previously noted that the outdated by-law failed to distinguish between agricultural, business, and residential areas, and was also not aligned with national legislation, while not promoting bee conservation.

She also urged residents who keep bees to familiarise themselves with the bylaw and adhere to it strictly, warning that violators may face a R300 fine.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za