Times Of Swaziland: NO MEDICATION, WOMAN DIES FROM BEE STINGS

NO MEDICATION, WOMAN DIES FROM BEE STINGS
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Joseph Zulu on 08/02/2025 09:20:00


PIGG’S PEAK – A well-known community woman, Thulisile Magongo, was fatally
stung by bees, but a lack of medication reduced her chances of survival.
Magongo was a vendor in Pigg’s Peak who supplied herbs known as imphepho. The
herb (scientific name: Helichrysum species) is a medicinal plant native to
southern Africa. It is widely used in Eswatini and other African countries for
its healing and spiritual properties. The plant has small, yellow flowers and
silver-grey leaves, giving it a distinctive appearance. It is common around the
area as it grows in nearby forests.
However, what is also common in Pigg’s Peak and surrounding areas are bees.
There are many bees because of the flowering plants which the bees go for to
collect pollen and nectar. They use nectar to produce honey.
Swarmed
On Tuesday, Magongo is said to have gone to collect some imphepho when she was
suddenly swarmed by bees. Normally, when she goes to collect this most
sought-after herb, she goes with other women, but on the fateful date, she was
alone.
It is alleged that she was alone at the time of the attack. The bees are not
wild but are said to have been bred for the purpose of producing honey by one of
the residents. It is alleged that Magongo was attacked by the bees, which stung
her all over her body. This was confirmed by her son, who recounted the events
that led to his mother’s tragic death.
He stated that after the bees attack, his mother was assisted by the owner of
the bees, who then took her to the hospital. “After the bees attack, my mother
was rushed to the Pigg’s Peak Government Hospital,” he said.
However, after she was admitted, the family received a distressing call from one
of the people who was at the hospital with her, informing them that the
medication needed to treat her allergic reaction was not available.
He said he was informed that the required medicine costs about E450.
“We had the money, but we could not buy the medication because the pharmacies
were closed at the time,” he added. Tragically, later that same evening,
Magongo passed away, leaving her family in shock and mourning. Notably Eswatini
does not have 24-hour operating pharmacies unlike neighbouring South Africa,
which has 24-hour pharmacies in some locations.
Incident
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the availability of emergency
medical treatment in the country’s hospitals. It is not the first time that
bees have stung and killed someone in Pigg’s Peak. This is the third incident
reported by the Times of Eswatini in the past 10 years of people dying due to
being stung by bees.
In a previous case, a child succumbed to bee stings while walking near some bees
around Pigg’s Peak and another victim was attacked while working in a nearby
waiting room. These recurring incidents highlight the potential danger posed by
domesticated bees, particularly in areas where beekeeping is prevalent.
Also, this publication had previously reported that children were stung by bees
near Eswatini Plantations, about two kilometres from the Pigg’s Peak town
centre. Though none of the children died after the bees attack, a concern was
raised about breeding bees near communities.