A man has landed in hospital after a swarm of bees attacked him.
The man was stung while mowing the lawn at a house in 6de Laan in Eikendal, Kraaifontein, on Wednesday morning.
According to the homeowner, this was the fifth person to be attacked by the swarm that made a hive in a box in his garden several months ago.
Warren Frieslaar says he’s been contacting the City of Cape Town to assist with removing the hive but his pleas have been falling on deaf ears.
He says the wooden box buzzing with bees is making neighbours and passers-by nervous but he cannot afford to have it removed by a private company.
The victim, Michael Williams, 56, was treated at the Kraaifontein Day Hospital.
When the Daily Voice visited him he was wearing an oxygen mask and had trouble breathing.
His worried sister Wilhelmina Williams says he had been stung more than 20 times.
“I can see he is in so much pain, his face and neck is swollen, that’s why he’s on the oxygen. According to the number of stitches on his head and neck, it looks like more than 20 bees attacked him,” she says.
Warren says the bees are a menace.
“Michael is the fifth person that I had to rush to the Kraaifontein hospital due to the bees.
“He was busy mowing the lawn when they attacked. He fell down and cried while the bees stung him,” he says
“I have logged so many complaints with the City asking for help but nobody is listening.
“We don’t just want to kill the bees because they are endangered and important to the environment but I can’t afford a private company, they charge upwards from R3000 for removal.
“These bees even attack people walking past if the wind blows.
“They also attacked our dog on Wednesday, and a nine-year-old boy was stung on the cheek when he came from school.”
His mother Maria Steenkamp, 54, adds: “Everyone is scared to walk outside, we are prisoners in our own home.
“As jy buite is moet jy koes-koes hardloop om nie gesteek te word nie.
“We are just scared someone with a bee allergy might be stung, it could be fatal.”
In response, the City of Cape Town said: “The matter has been reported to the relevant department who are in the process of appointing a service provider to remove the hive as soon as possible.”
The City said more information about the removal of bees and/or wasps can be found on its website.