The funeral services sector has been highlighted as a critical driver of township and rural economies during the SAFPA International Convention currently underway in Durban.
Hosted by the South African Funeral Practitioners Association at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, the convention has brought together more than 1,500 local and international delegates, including funeral practitioners, suppliers, policymakers and development institutions.
The programme features high-level discussions, policy dialogues, exhibitions, networking platforms and cultural experiences aimed at strengthening the profession and driving innovation across the sector.
SEDFA highlights MSME support in funeral sector
The Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency has showcased its ongoing support for funeral-sector enterprises, with Interim Board Chair Patrick Makape outlining the agency’s role in strengthening small businesses within the industry.
Makape said 120 funeral-sector enterprises have benefited from both financial and non-financial support.
These include funeral parlours, coffin manufacturers, cremation services and burial societies.
He said the interventions focus on improving operations, strengthening competitiveness and sustaining livelihoods.
The support also includes mentorship, business development services, market access facilitation and incubation programmes aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability within the sector.
Government highlights SMEs as economic backbone
Delivering the keynote address at the convention, Stella Tembisa Ndabeni emphasised the role of small businesses in supporting local economies.
She said MSMEs remain the backbone of township and rural economic activity, particularly in sectors such as funeral services where small businesses play a vital role in job creation and local value chains.
“MSMEs are the backbone of that ecosystem, particularly in sectors like funeral services where small businesses sustain livelihoods, create jobs, and strengthen local value chains,” she said.
Ndabeni stressed that access to infrastructure and support systems is essential for business growth.
“Without business infrastructure, there is no access and without access, there is no growth,” she said.
She added that government remains committed to supporting funeral practitioners through improved access to finance, business development support and pathways to formalisation and growth.
