Mmabatho Morudi turned a household nuisance, bees settling in her family’s ceiling, into Iliju Bee Farm and The Village Market, a business that uses beekeeping to fund rural economic development around Winterveld, north-west of Pretoria.
From pest problem to business model
Morudi’s grandfather, Dr Sam Motsuenyane, suggested she train in beekeeping after bees repeatedly took up residence in the family home. What started as a practical fix became a business built on a real shortage: most of South Africa’s honey was, and largely still is, imported rather than locally produced.
Bees as rural development, not just honey
The Village Market places hives on community members’ land at no cost, using the bees to improve pollination and crop yields for local farmers, then buys back the resulting produce for resale. A related initiative, the Village Collective, gives women in the Winterveld area an income making pillows and bags sold to corporate clients and at markets.
Why the model has held up
Access to capital, and convincing rural landowners to accept hives despite bees still being widely seen as pests, were the biggest early obstacles. Diversifying into an organic vegetable home-delivery service gave the business steadier running costs than beekeeping alone could provide, a lesson in building multiple revenue streams around one core resource that still applies to any agri-business trying to survive its early years, exactly the kind of rural enterprise the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition continues to prioritise in its own small-business support work.
Frequently asked questions
What does The Village Market do?
It uses beekeeping to improve crop pollination for rural farmers, then buys back and resells their produce, funding rural economic development through the bee farming model.
Who founded Iliju Bee Farm?
Mmabatho Morudi, together with her partner Desmond Morudi, founded the beekeeping and agricultural produce business in Winterveld.
What is the Village Collective?
A related initiative giving women in the Winterveld area income by making pillows and bags sold to corporate clients and at markets.
Why does South Africa still import most of its honey?
The local beekeeping industry remains dominated by hobbyists rather than large commercial operations, leaving a persistent supply gap.
What were the biggest early challenges for the business?
Access to capital and convincing rural landowners to accept beehives on their property, since bees are still widely viewed as pests.
Further reading
Originally published in September 2016. Updated September 2026 to link current guidance on diversifying rural and agricultural income streams, the same discipline that helped Iliju Bee Farm survive its early years.
