SABIO (South African Bee Industry Organisation) made a submission as the bee sector representative in the agricultural industry on the controlled movement of beehives, during the 21-day lockdown starting on 26 March 2026 at midnight following the President’s announcement and arrangements to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. This submission was supported by accompanying letters from the University of Pretoria and our affiliated associations, namely Southerns Beekeeping Association, Western Cape Bee Industry Association, Northerns Beekeeping Association and KwaZulu Natal Bee Farmers Association.
The outcome of the above submission is that SABIO as an institution, whose members are providing essential services, are delegated in terms of R398 (dated 25 March 2020) of the Disaster Management Act to issue permits to allow the movement of beehives. The SABIO Board had by majority accepted this delegation and nominated the Chairperson of the Board of Directors to issue permits to its professional members.
As Industry role player, SABIO shall continue to encourage our members to demonstrate discipline to comply and adhere to the health regulations aimed at containing and stemming the spread of COVID-19 while supplying critical services to grower farmers, in particular to the fruit and seed sectors. The period of lockdown however comes at a time critical to the success for the fruit and seed industries for pollination services and key in the food security value chain.
SABIO recognises that the movement of beehives should be done under strict conditions and only when necessary. On the other hand, beehive maintenance is also critical and essential. Beekeepers are urged to conduct this activity only if necessary, during this period of lockdown.
The SABIO Board have agreed to the following Protocol to be followed by beekeepers when moving and or maintaining beehives:
- Prior arrangement with landowners to obtain permission to enter their property will be essential during this period where movement of people are to be limited to the absolute minimum
- There should be no direct contact with landowners and farm workers
- A maximum of two workers and one driver will be allowed per vehicle
- Hand sanitiser to be present in vehicle at all times
- Beehives must be marked with a registration mark allocated by DALRRD
- Applicant beekeepers shall be registered with SABIO as professional beekeepers as per the new membership criteria of 2020
- The load should be covered with a shade net to prevent flying bees where this movement is carried out during day time
- Small scale or non-commercial beekeeper members of SABIO may apply for a once-off permit (valid for 1 day only) to relocate beehives to a more suitable location (see * below)
- The same provisions to apply to professional bee removal services, for removal of wild bee colonies which may put humans or animals at risk due to stinging behavior (see * below)
- Applicant beekeepers to comply to all other Regulations applicable to the movement of bees
- This Protocol shall remain in place until such time as the lock-down is lifted or new measures are announced by DALRRD.
*SABIO recognizes that some memberships have lapsed on 29 February 2020 and a three-month period is in general granted for renewal of memberships. Beekeepers that have not had the time to renew their membership will not be excluded but shall be members in good standing on applying for a one day hive movement permit. New membership applications should be submitted if the beekeeper was not a SABIO member for 2019.
Professional members are welcome to submit an application accompanied by proof of payment by email for such membership in order to qualify for a permit for the movement of beehives to be issued.
The application to include:
Surname, Full names, ID number, Reason for activity and Full names & Surname of responsible driver(s).
You may contact the Chairman at 083 306 1446 or by email at info@sabio.org.za
Adriaan du Toit (Ph.D.), Chairman SABIO Board of Directors
