By Maphuti Mongatane
From the polished floors of corporate boardrooms to the raw hum of bee colonies in Pretoria, Lulu Letlape’s story is a testament to transformation, healing, and purpose. She’s not only the founder of BongiBees, a Black women-owned bee enterprise, but also a former corporate executive with over two decades of leadership experience in major South African institutions.
I met Lulu at World Bee Day Celebration at Agriculture Research Council – Vegetable, Industrial and Medicinal Plants) Roodeplaat, where her presence dignified, gentle, and grounded, captured my attention. Said Maphuti Mongatane, African Farming Business Development Manager. And her story? It left me absolutely buzzing with inspiration.
From Power Suits to Beekeeping Suits
Before she wore a beekeeper’s veil, Lulu Letlape wore the title of Vice President for Corporate Affairs at South32. Her career spanned senior roles at Sanlam, Mercedes-Benz, and Telkom, managing communications, sustainability, and public affairs at the highest level. She served on the boards of Autopax and Workforce Holdings and held advisory and trustee roles in multiple organisations. Armed with a master’s in management from Wits, and as a member of elite forums like the International Women’s Forum of South Africa and the Aspen Leadership Network, Lulu’s career trajectory was nothing short of trailblazing.
But behind the accolades and influence was a woman physically depleted by stress.
“I had a debilitating autoimmune disease brought on by stress and poor food. I needed to detox my body, clear my mind, and completely reset,” she shared.
That healing began with bees
Lulu moved away from corporate life, bought a small farm, and began beekeeping with just five hives. What started as therapy evolved into a thriving enterprise and her passion project became a mission. “Raw honey helped me heal,” she said. “It gave me life again. Now I want others to experience that same power.”
Today, BongiBees (meaning “thankful bees”) does far more than produce honey. It protects South Africa’s pollinators, trains women in sustainable agriculture, and raises the standard for traceable, raw, and high-quality bee-based products.
Learning by doing, giving by Heart
Lulu had no formal beekeeping training. She learned hands-on, inviting experts onto her farm to guide her step-by-step. “You need to feel the bees, understand their rhythms. Training had to be practical. That’s how I learned and that’s how I now teach.”
She mentors women who keep their own hives on her land, helping them turn beekeeping into business. “We don’t just harvest honey, we harvest independence.”
Bees meet cannabis: A bold innovation
One of BongiBees’ most intriguing projects is cannabis-pollinated honey, in collaboration with a grower who shares Lulu’s vision.
“I noticed my bees feeding near his cannabis crop,” she said, smiling. “We’re now exploring its medicinal potential. Imagine honey with calming properties infused naturally, it’s powerful.”
Beyond the hive: Life-giving products
From raw honey and facial waxes to honey-based sleep aids, BongiBees offers a growing range of health-focused products.
But Lulu is also fighting a quiet war: the war against fake, diluted, or imported honey. “If the jar doesn’t say where it was produced, don’t trust it. People are mixing foreign honey with ours and calling it South African. Traceability matters.”
Her honey is local, pure, and produced with intention.
Global recognition and local impact
Lulu’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. She was recently invited to the United States to present her women-led training model, a system now transforming lives in South Africa. “Women I’ve trained now run their own hives. The US wants to replicate that. I’m beyond humbled.”
BongiBees is also backed by Momentum Metropolitan, whose sustainability head, Charlene Lackay, says: “Working with BongiBees aligns with our values empowering women and protecting the environment.”
A pollinator’s purpose
With 35% of global crops reliant on pollinators, Lulu’s work sits at the intersection of agriculture and climate resilience. “Without bees,” she warns, “our food system collapses. Beekeeping is environmental activism.”
And that activism is personal. Every jar of honey carries a story of healing, empowerment, and hope.
The final word
“Bees saved my life,” Lulu said. “Now I want them to save others economically, physically, and spiritually.”
At African Farming, we believe stories like Lulu’s deserve to be told loudly and proudly. She’s not just keeping bees, she’s building a movement. One hive, one woman, one spoon of honey at a time.
Want to connect with Lulu Letlape or explore BongiBees products and training? Reach out via African Farming, or visit www.bongibees.co.za
