About SABIO
Document Downloads:
SABIO Constitution
SABIO Regulations
SABIO Administrative Protocols
SABIO Code of Conduct
Our History
Although three regional Beekeeping Associations had been in existence since the first decade of the 20th Century; Transvaal (1907), Natal (1909) and Western Province (1911), the first national body of Beekeepers in South Africa was formed in 1921 in the form of the South Africa Association of Beekeepers, (SAAB).
This name however changed on occasion throughout the years, notably to the South African Federation of Beekeepers Associations in the 1960’s although it was always commonly referred to as the SA Association of Beekeepers.
In 1993 a further structural change took place with the establishment of the Southern African Bee Industry Executive (SABIE) which was made up of representatives from the SA Federation of Bee Farmers Associations and the SA Professional Bee Farmers’ Co-Operative Ltd.
In 2003 SABIE was re-constituted to become the South African Bee Industry Organisation (SABIO).
The Bee Industry body has retained its structural format since 2003 despite a number of constitutional changes to improve its operations and representivity.
The regulation of Beekeeping in South Africa has always fallen within the ambit of the Agricultural Pests Act.
In 1998 a Control Measure was promulgated primarily in response to the control of the “capensis invasion” requiring all beekeepers to register. The administrative requirements were delegated to the then SABIE body. SABIO took over this function in 2003.
This function has been relinquished to the Department of Agriculture in 2013 in terms of the amended Control Measure.
SABIO is a voluntary association operating in terms of its Constitution.
It has a Board comprising members elected to run the organisation and to represent its interests to government and other stakeholders in the agricultural and trade industries.
South African Beekeeping in the early days – “Die Byeboerwa”
(Acknowledgements: “A History of Bees and Beekeeping in South Africa”, du Preez, F., The Office, 2011.)
(Beekeeper’s Wagon) from Swellendam, Southern Cape.
SABIO Board meeting Paarl, March 2020