In the world of agriculture, few pursuits are as fascinating and sweet as beekeeping. Just ask bee farmers Dimpho Xaba, Dawn Noemdoe, and Craig Campbell.
Every day, they put on their white suits and mesh veils with pride and set out to tend to their hives. Inside the apiary where they keep the bees, a collective hum rises as the bees wake up.
As the world celebrates World Bee Day on 20 May, Food For Mzansi got a glimpse of the captivating world of beekeeping through the eyes of these three remarkable beekeepers.
The inspired academic
Dimpho Xaba, an agricultural lecturer turned farmer and beekeeper, found his calling amidst the buzzing excitement of a Bee Conference in 2019.
When asked if he ever had any funny mishaps while tending to his hives, he humorously answered, “Bees can be bought today and tomorrow they disappear.”
Yet, despite the occasional vanishing act, Xaba finds joy in being a beekeeper. “They pollinate our crops on the farms. I also get an income from honey and honey products sales as well as bee removals.”
The earth warrior
Dawn Noemdoe’s path to beekeeping is as rich and diverse as the honey she harvests. As a journalist and podcaster passionate about farming, Noemdoe saw beekeeping as a gateway to sustainable livelihoods and environmental stewardship.
“Working in the field one sees the opportunities the agricultural sector can offer, and I wanted to be part of it,” she says.
Noemdoe says the number of young black beekeepers in this business space is limited given the country’s history. “Most of the historically disadvantaged working with bees is at the very lowest level.”
Food For Mzansi asked Noemdoe what bees might say if they could talk. “They would likely say, ‘Don’t bother us. We’re not here to harm you, so please stop hurting and killing us. Protect us, understanding that your life depends on it.’ Because it truly does.”
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The beekeeping ambassador
Craig Campbell’s journey into beekeeping began as a hobby alongside his brother-in-law in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal. Over the years, his apiary has blossomed into a thriving enterprise, with more than 4 000 hives under his care. Each of these is with 20 000 to 100 000 bees depending on the season and the hive’s stage of development.
“To work with these amazing creatures is such a privilege. I work with them every day as a professional beekeeper… It is amazing to work with them,” he says.
For Campbell, two of the most surprising things about bees is their tireless work ethic and the urgent need for them to be protected.
While his encounters with bees have left their mark, sometimes quite literally, Campbell cherishes the memories of meeting fellow beekeepers from around the globe.
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