by Ncaba Ntshakala and Siphesihle Dlamini
A new association of funeral undertakers has been formed to professionalize the funeral industry and provide a unified voice for industry stakeholders.
Speaking at a press briefing held at Business Eswatini War Room, Musa Vilakati announced that the association will officially launch on October 29, 2024, at Hilton Garden Hotel, with key sessions including the adoption of a constitution, election of leadership, and discussions on future goals.
Vilakati explained that the funeral industry is a complex sector involving various players such as funeral homes, undertakers, burial societies, insurance companies, suppliers, and other service providers.
“We have decided to come together as funeral undertakers to form an association. For now, it’s only the undertakers that are part of the association.
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In the country, we’ve got about 25 of them that are licensed, along with others working in the space,” he noted.
The newly formed association sets to advocate for the interests of funeral undertakers while improving client service and raising industry standards.
“We want to be a voice for undertakers when engaging with the government and regulatory institutions. At the same time, we want to help clients understand what they should expect from professional undertakers,” Vilakati emphasized.
He outlined the association’s intent to collaborate with both local and international stakeholders to enhance professionalism within the sector.
“We are working with business associations, labor organizations, and professional bodies locally and internationally, such as the South African Funeral Practitioners Association.
Our goal is to professionalize the industry by building the capacity of directors and staff. We want people to join the industry out of passion, not just because they can’t find work elsewhere.
The funeral space requires special attention to support grieving families, and it involves various professions like funeral directors, embalmers, and cemetery caretakers,” he explained.
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Vilakati stressed the importance of treating the funeral industry as a specialized type of events management and the need to work closely with several government departments.
“We engage with home affairs on death certificates, commerce for trade licenses, foreign affairs for repatriation services, and labor for employment standards.
We also collaborate with the FSRA for insurance regulation and ESCCOM for data management.
It’s essential that we are part of legislative consultations to ensure compliance with all regulations affecting the industry,” he added.
The launch event on October 29 will consist of two sessions which will be a constitutional Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the morning, followed by a formal launch in the afternoon, where local and international visitors are expected to attend.
“The AGM will allow us to adopt a constitution, elect leaders, and chart our program of action,” Vilakati concluded.
