Rassie Erasmus has been a beekeeper for 60 years.
The Bromhof resident owns three bee farms.
They are in Honeydew, Vereeniging and Thabazimbi.
Having seen seven people killed by bees, Erasmus advises how you should act when bees are around, to avoid being stung.
“When bees chase you, don’t jump into water,” he says. ” They will wait for you. Bees do not like wet hair and they will attack you.”
Rather go inside the house and close the door behind you, Erasmus advises.
Do not mow the lawn when a beehive is nearby.
It “upsets them” and they might attack you.
Also, do not squeeze kikuyu grass or carrot leaves, or make a very loud noise, near the hive. It may also aggravate the bees.
If you find a beehive, do not spray poison on it.
“It buggers the whole environment… and if a bee gets poison on it and it stings someone, the person could die.”
Rather ask a beekeeper to remove the beehive, so that you, and the environment, are kept safe.
Erasmus recently removed a swarm of 9 000 bees in Northwold, barehanded.
Erasmus keeps bees for their honey, and to pollinate flowers on nearby farms.
Details: Beekeeper Rassie Erasmus 011 793 2684.
