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. The primary focus of the association’s participation was the honey, mead, and other beehive by-products competition, which attracted more than 130 entries across 25 categories, underlining the diversity and quality of the local industry.
This year’s competition saw the return of several well-established names in the honey world, all vying to retain their titles. They included Pieter Loubser, Audrey de Jongh, Dawid Rooifontein, and Eddy Rubé, who have consistently set the standard in previous competitions. Audrey de Jongh particularly stood out, earning a remarkable 99.5% for her Liquid Dark Honey in the open section, which secured her the coveted title of ‘Best Bottle of Honey on Show.’
In the mead section, Inge Austin emerged victorious, winning ‘Best Bottle of Mead on Show,’ while Brian Mwantola took home the top score for a wax block, demonstrating the region’s diverse skill set in various beekeeping by-products. Meanwhile, Eddy Rubé continued his winning streak, achieving the Highest Overall Score across categories.
Special mentions were made for those entrants who accomplished the rare feat of earning 100% in their respective categories. Dawid Rooifontein impressed judges with his perfect scores for both his commercial entry of 24 jars of honey and soft-set honey. Similarly, Pieter Loubser and Eddy Rubé were celebrated for their single-varietal honeys, further solidifying their reputations as top contenders in the industry.
This year’s competition saw a notable increase in entries for the single-varietal honey category, with 16 entries. Known as “select honeys” in competition terms, these honeys highlighted the incredible diversity of flora in the Western Cape, ranging from Medicine Bush and Prickly Pear to Rooibos, Mountain Fynbos, Myrtle, Wolfdoring, Asbos, Acacia, and Citrus.
Reg Morgan, Chairman of the South African Honey Judges’ and Stewards Guild, oversaw the competition and was highly impressed by the caliber of the entries. He remarked, “The standard of presentation in the honeys was high, and a good number of entries had the polished look of quality honey. It was very encouraging to note that a number of last year’s novices were among the top winners with excellent points.”
Morgan also commented on the quality of the wax blocks, which were “of an excellent standard,” and the evocative nature of the photographic section, which attracted eight entries. The candle section, showcasing beautiful examples of this craft, was a continual point of interest for visitors, with many lamenting the absence of products for sale. The mead section also shone, with Inge Austin nearly achieving a clean sweep. Morgan noted that there is room for growth in this section, as the interest in mead continues to rise.
Morgan’s fellow judge, Elize Lundall-Magnuson, chief steward, Thabang Nkgau, and their dedicated team of Ian Thompson, Sam Mathibe, Harry Boroko, and Lesibo Ledwabe, must all be credited for the smooth running of the competition.
For full results, click here.
In addition to the competition, WCBA Chairman Chris Nicklin gave a series of talks to hundreds of high school learners, many of whom were from rural schools. His presentations emphasized the critical role honey bees play in the agricultural economy through pollination and the threats facing the beekeeping industry, such as forage loss, hive theft, and vandalism. Nicklin also urged the students, some of whom may become future farmers, to help ensure the safety of beehives in rural areas by reporting theft and vandalism to the police. The talks culminated in a honey-tasting session, led by Reg Morgan in his honey judge attire, which was a huge hit among the learners.
The WCBA’s second competition at NAMPO Cape 2024 not only highlighted the immense talent within the beekeeping community but also set a high bar for future competitions.
