Ronel Swanepoel of Brakpan earned the highest overall score at the Gauteng Honey and Mead Competition held at Heckers Nursery in Boksburg on October 25, proudly representing the Holfontein Bee Sanctuary.

The event was hosted by the Eastern Highveld Beekeepers Association from the East Rand, with strong support from the Northerns Beekeeping Association in Pretoria and the Southerns Beekeeping Association in Johannesburg.

Judging was conducted by the Honey Judges’ and Stewards’ Guild of South Africa, ensuring a professional and rigorous assessment of all entries.

Swanepoel entered a wide range of exhibits, impressing judges with the quality, presentation and consistency of her products. Her achievement reflects not only skill but also dedication to the craft of beekeeping.

She and her beekeeping partner, Chris Schoeman, first developed an interest in bees four years ago.

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In 2021, they enrolled in a beekeeping course that sparked their enthusiasm and laid the foundation for their ongoing involvement in the industry.

“We entered the competition primarily for the feedback. It gives you insight into what you’re doing well and where you can improve. Bees are fascinating, and once we did that first course, we just kept learning and exploring,” said Swanepoel.

One of the judges, Tina Lear, said judging at the competition is a meticulous process.

“Honey and mead are evaluated on multiple factors beyond taste, including presentation, cleanliness and technical accuracy. Bottles must be clean and polished, as sticky or dirty containers lose points.

“Fill levels are strictly checked, with standard weights such as 500 grams required for honey jars. Overfilled bottles can become messy, while underfilled bottles fail to meet competition standards.”

She explained that judges closely inspect honey for air bubbles, colour, clarity and granulation.

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“Granulated honey is judged on the consistency and degree of granulation, while liquid honey is evaluated for smoothness and uniformity. Mead entries are assessed for presentation, clarity, sediment levels and the amount of air space in the bottle’s neck.

“Even minor details, such as the absence of floating sediment or proper bottle capping, can influence the score,” she added.

Lear emphasised that every element of an entry matters.

“From the neck of the bottle to the clarity of the liquid, and even the way the honey sits in the jar, it all contributes to the final score.”

She praised Swanepoel’s performance, saying, “Ronel did exceptionally well, and we are very proud of her.”