COMMUNITIES around North West gathered at Luka outside Rustenburg to celebrate World Bee Day.
World Bee Day is celebrated on 20 May to raise awareness about the influence of the bee economy and environmental advantages of beekeeping.
On Friday, 19 May, community member Leboneng Masikane said she was attending the event to gain more knowledge and learn about the beekeeping industry, which is something very new to her.
"We need to challenge ourselves to have interest in things that will help us decrease the unemployment rate," he said.
"Most of us are sitting at home doing nothing while we can make more money from agriculture to provide for our families," he said.
A beekeeper, Mpho Bogatsu, said they owe a great deal of gratitude to bees.
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Mpho said a bee is an incredible but sometimes underrated insect that is among the world's hardest-working insects for their tireless perseverance. Mpho keeps bees for the production of organic honey, propolis and wax.
"People think bees are enemies. Bees are friendly. They react to what you are doing. They don't just attack you," she said.
Another beekeeper, Sello Nthoesane, said many indigenous peoples use the products made by bees, such as honey, wax, pollen, and the bees themselves, for a variety of uses, including food and traditional medicine.
"It is important to recognise that bees play an important role in food and nutrition security. Protecting bees will contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and eliminating hunger in developing countries."
Sello appreciated the support from the department. "We need more people to get into beekeeping," he said.
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development in the North West, Desbo Mohono, said the main purpose of World Bee Day was to raise awareness about the importance of bees and other pollinators.
"The department empowers disadvantaged communities, equips them with beekeeping skills with the aim that they start their own bee farms and supply honey to big enterprises. We would like to groom as many beekeepers as possible because our ecosystem needs bees."
