Bee information day at Elsenburg.
On 16 May 2026 the Western Cape Bee Association hosted a workshop at Elsenburg agricultural college. Hobbyists, small scale beekeepers as well as commercial honey
WCBA & Industry News
Find out more about what’s been going on at the WCBA and in the bee industry here in South Africa, together with expert tips from WCBA members. If you have an article to contribute, we’d love to hear from you: media@wcba.co.za.
Join the 69th Summer Fancy Food Show, New York
Wesgro, in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and South African Consulate General in New York, invites you to join an Outward Selling Mission to the 69th Summer Fancy Food Show, New York,
Spike in honey bee poisonings highlights urgent need to tighten regulations on agrochemical use
The Western Cape Bee Industry Association (WCBA) is raising the alarm over a concerning increase in honey bee poisonings across the province, attributed to the careless and often uninformed use of agricultural chemicals.
WCBA’s Annual General Meeting to take place at Spice Route in Paarl on 15 March 2025
We are pleased to announce that the Western Cape Bee Industry Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, 15 March 2025, at the renowned Spice Route wine farm and food destination in Paarl.
WCBA Member “Swarms” the UK National Honey Show With Impressive Number of Entries
Western Cape beekeeper, Eddy Rubé, recently had the privilege of attending the prestigious 2024 UK National Honey Show, considered to be the world’s largest and most prestigious honey show.
Following the bees – Dr Geoff Tribe, author of ‘Honey Mountain’, continues his pursuit of ancient honey bee nesting sites in the Western Cape
The Historic Heuningklip sites at Kleinmond (Overberg) and Herbertsdale (Southern Cape)
Status of South Africa’s Indigenous Honey Bees Under Review for the First Time in National Biodiversity Assessment
For the first time, South Africa’s two indigenous honey bee subspecies – the African honey bee (Apis mellifera scutellata) and the Cape honey bee (Apis mellifera capensis) – have been included in the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA).
WCBA at NAMPO Cape 2024
The Western Cape Bee Industry Association (WCBA) showcased its excellence at the NAMPO Cape Agricultural Expo, South Africa’s second-largest agricultural show, held in Bredasdorp from the 11th – 14th September, 2024.
CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR “CELEBRITY” CAPE HONEYBEE
By Elise-Marie Steenkamp – originally published on Hortgro website The Cape honeybee might have global celebrity status in the insect world, but there are many
End of year message
To say 2023 was an eventful year in local beekeeping would be an understatement.
Western Cape beekeepers excel in world-famous honey competition
A young beekeeper from the Cape West Coast has clinched a top award at one of the world’s leading honey shows.
Study into yellowjacket wasps and beekeeping
Arné Stander is researching a link between beekeeping and the spread of Vespula germanica and other invasive social wasps. The German wasp, also known as
High fives for honey, mead and photo competition
WCBA’s inaugural NAMPO honey, mead and photo competition received enthusiastic support from members and the public.
The Honeybees of the Tanqua
Several factors may influence the habitation and cohabitation of the bees.
Healthy Bees are Happy Bees
“Sustainability” is one of the most frequently used buzzwords – no pun intended – when talking about the future of our planet. Our beekeeping also
From Chris’s Desk
Chairman Chris Nicklin reflects on the Africa Regional Apimondia Symposium in Durban in March 2023.
Honey Festival highlights
The WCBA’s inaugural Honey Festival was held at the Spice Route near Paarl.
Honey of every Hue
Reg Morgan, Chairman of the Honey Judges’ and Stewards’ Guild of South Africa, presided over the WCBA’s recent honey competition, held in conjunction with the
Cape Honeybees are up for the Blueberry Pollination Task
Until now, little research had focused on how honey bees actually perform as blueberry pollinators in South Africa. In this article, first published in The
The Great Onion Pollination Mystery
What lies behind the failure of honeybees to pollinate onion seed crops in certain years?
Book Review: ‘Honey Mountain’ by Geoff Tribe
Geoff Tribe was an up-and-coming entomologist, increasingly focusing on honeybee research, when he became highly allergic to bee venom. “Even the odour from an opened
Let the Flowers Bloom
The Overstrand and City of Cape Town local authorities have adopted “no mow” approaches to some areas within their jurisdiction to allow spring flowers to
Knysna Beekeepers Win US Honey Award
Knysna beekeepers, Owen and Christa Williams, might be long-established beekeepers but they are complete newbies to the world of honey competitions – but that didn’t
Beekeeper of the Month – Anna Smith (August 2022)
Anna Smith, who lives and works in the Koue Bokkeveld near Ceres, started beekeeping in 2012, a step which ultimately saw her leave her job
How Hive Beetles Outwit Bees
Hive beetles are the bane of many a beekeepers’ existence outside of sub-Saharan Africa but the relationship between these ‘freeloaders’ and their hosts in the
Video: Bee Forage Vital For Food System
Pollinators, like the honeybee, face many challenges in the modern world. One of these challenges is forage sources. The role that forage plays in keeping
Beekeeping in Gugulethu
Vuyo Myoli set himself up as a beekeeper in the Cape Town township of Gugulethu, writes Ashraf Hendricks for GroundUp. “I’m a farmer by day
Darran Shows How to Keep Bees – From a Wheelchair
Darran Colquhoun has been using a wheelchair for the past 24 years due to a rare disease called syringphydromyelia, but that hasn’t prevented him from keeping bees. He talks about his love for bees and the challenges he has had to overcome.
Beekeeper of the Month – Nico Langenhoven (July 2022)
Nico Langenhoven, 81, was recently awarded a lifetime honorary membership of the Western Cape Bee Industry Association. We caught up with him at his home in Paarl to find out more about his lifelong association with bees.
Celebrating the marvels of the cape honeybee
World Bee Day is sanctioned by the United Nations. Its purpose is to acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators in the global ecosystem.