Bees kill man
2006-06-19 16:15
Johannesburg - A 73-year-old man died near Butterworth at the weekend when he was stung by bees, police said on Monday.
Captain Jackson Manatha said Victor Ndoda Nyembezi had been part of a group of about 100 people who were trying to remove a hive from a homestead in Mgomanzi village near Butterworth on Friday.
"The old man had attended a traditional ceremony in one of the homesteads where the bees were to be chased away traditionally," said Manatha.
He said the bees attacked and everyone fled, but Nyembezi was not able to run and was stung to death.
He was taken to Butterworth Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
Manatha said the removal of bees was usually done in a traditional ceremony led by a sangoma or traditional healer, so that the community could take the honey from the hive.
A culpable homicide docket was opened.
- SAPA