News / Local
Toddlers survive vicious 'domesticated' bees attack
16 Mar 2014 at 19:51hrs | Views
Josefa Ncube stands near the beehive
Seven Bulawayo children aged between four and 10 years are lucky to be alive following a vicious attack by angry bees.
The bees are allegedly kept in a drum by josefa Ncube (65) of 4409 in Gwabalanda high density suburb.
Neighbours who witnessed the attack said the children were completely covered with bees.
"The children released blood curdling screams that could be heard a long distance away. Terror stricken, we came rushing out of our houses to see what was going on. The children were running around their heads and upper bodies completely covered with bees. Even the loud buzzing of the angry bees could not drown out their ear piercing screams," said Moses Sithole,one of the neighbours.
A close up of the opening of the hive
He said there was mayhem as everyone ran off leaving the children at the mercy of the bees.
"That is easily the scariest thing I have ever seen and I will never forget the sight of adults abandoning children to sure death. It was every person for himself as there was no telling who they would attack next," he said.
Ndabezinhle Ngwenya of 4392 Gwabalanda whose house is behind Ncube's, said he rushed his three sons, seven-year-old twins and their brother aged 10, to hospital.
"They were playing in a tree with four friends when one of them threw a stone into the hive. The bees attacked them and thank God, they had the presence of mind to run into the house and stand under the shower," he said.
A woman indicates the tree on which the children were playing when they were attacked by the bees
Ngwenya said three children from house numbers 4391 and 4396, were also stung by the bees.
"You should have seen them on the day of the incident, they were hideously swollen all over. It is a miracle that they have started going to school," said Ngwenya.
Residents said they were living in fear of further attacks, saying the bees' owner did not want to get rid of them.
Contacted for comment, Ncube said his bees were tame and they were not the ones who stung the children.
"These bees have been here for more than two years and they have never attacked anyone. Even my children freely sweep under their hive. I have, however, called the police to come and remove them but they have not responded," he said.
The bees are allegedly kept in a drum by josefa Ncube (65) of 4409 in Gwabalanda high density suburb.
Neighbours who witnessed the attack said the children were completely covered with bees.
"The children released blood curdling screams that could be heard a long distance away. Terror stricken, we came rushing out of our houses to see what was going on. The children were running around their heads and upper bodies completely covered with bees. Even the loud buzzing of the angry bees could not drown out their ear piercing screams," said Moses Sithole,one of the neighbours.
A close up of the opening of the hive
He said there was mayhem as everyone ran off leaving the children at the mercy of the bees.
"That is easily the scariest thing I have ever seen and I will never forget the sight of adults abandoning children to sure death. It was every person for himself as there was no telling who they would attack next," he said.
"They were playing in a tree with four friends when one of them threw a stone into the hive. The bees attacked them and thank God, they had the presence of mind to run into the house and stand under the shower," he said.
A woman indicates the tree on which the children were playing when they were attacked by the bees
Ngwenya said three children from house numbers 4391 and 4396, were also stung by the bees.
"You should have seen them on the day of the incident, they were hideously swollen all over. It is a miracle that they have started going to school," said Ngwenya.
Residents said they were living in fear of further attacks, saying the bees' owner did not want to get rid of them.
Contacted for comment, Ncube said his bees were tame and they were not the ones who stung the children.
"These bees have been here for more than two years and they have never attacked anyone. Even my children freely sweep under their hive. I have, however, called the police to come and remove them but they have not responded," he said.
Source - Byo24News
