GEORGE NEWS - It's bee season in the Garden Route, which means bees are very active and can potentially pose a risk to animals and people. George municipality director of Community Services, Walter Hendricks, said the municipality had received reports of the illegal keeping of bees, and the establishing of hives on empty municipal and private properties.
"The municipality reminds citizens that the George Municipality Animals By-law (P.N. 6816 of 30 November 2010) prohibits the keeping of bees in residential areas, and we appeal to the public to report illegal hives," he said.
"We also ask the public to keep a lookout for wild bees that may have settled on municipal land such as in play parks, picnic sites and parking lots, and to report it to Environmental Services as soon as they see it, so the hives can be moved correctly and safely.
"Active hives are very dangerous. They are especially unpredictable in hot weather, and should not be handled or moved or harvested for honey by inexperienced hands. Swarming bees can be deadly to people and animals and should not be underestimated. Do not try to remove a hive yourself, do not throw stones at it or poke it with a stick, and stop other people from doing so," he cautions.
Contact numbers
Report the illegal keeping of bees to Environmental Services on 044 802 2900 or 044 801 6300 after hours. The owner / keeper will be served with a notice and will have 10 days from the time of the notice being served, to move the hives. Report wild bees on municipal properties to the George Fire Department on 044 801 6300 all hours.
Please consult the local telephone directory for the removal of bees on private properties.
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