A man was left in critical condition and four others were treated after an aggressive bee swarm attacked passers-by in the Middelburg central business district.

Martin Nel and the Hassens Group carried out the operation using a cherry-picker to eliminate the lingering threat at the old FNB building last night, October 1.

Heat triggers aggressive Sunday attack

The removal follows an incident on the afternoon of Sunday, September 27, when a swarm of aggressive bees unexpectedly attacked passers-by and drivers in the area.

Middelburg Community Policing Forum chairperson Juanitha Groenewald said that the aggression was largely attributed to extreme heat and sudden changes in weather conditions, which made the hive unusually hostile.

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During the incident, multiple people were stung, with one man transported to hospital in critical condition and four others treated by emergency medical staff.

Local salon workers and bystanders were praised for their bravery after stepping in to assist victims before emergency services arrived.

Night operation clears old FNB building nest

To ensure public safety, emergency responders, Community Policing Forum members, and a local bee expert mounted a night-time operation using high-reach machinery to target the nest situated high in the structure’s roof.

Teams used specialised smoking equipment to calm and safely disperse the swarm.

Groenewald confirmed that the hive has now been completely removed, and the CBD area has been declared safe once again.

To read more about this, get your copy of this week’s Observer for a more detailed report.