By: Noko Mashilo
Pamela Motlhabi, a multi-award-winning mortician, has devoted her life to caring for the deceased and guiding families through the funeral process. Her journey into this unique profession began in her early thirties, following the heartbreaking loss of her husband in 1996. “I struggled to cope with grief; it felt like a whirlwind of pain, confusion, and emptiness,” she shared in an interview with Vutivi News, recalling the profound emotional turmoil she experienced.
Motlhabi eventually left her job in the banking industry to start a coffin manufacturing business, which evolved into Tshebedisano Burial Society & Funerals, located in the Midway industrial area of Soweto. “I wanted to channel my grief into something meaningful while helping others navigate their own difficult times. I knew I had the personal touch and empathy needed to support grieving families,” she explained.
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In the early days, Motlhabi would collect bodies herself, sometimes traveling as far as Lesotho. “I’d drive through the night, deliver the body, then take my child to school in the morning and still make it to the office for administrative work,” she recalled, highlighting the immense dedication and resilience required in her early years.
Born in Meadowlands, Soweto, and raised in Tladi, Motlhabi described her early experiences as a “school of resilience”. “I did everything on my own – driving, cleaning, embalming, planning funerals, managing administration, and offering emotional support. Today, I have over 50 employees across branches in Tladi, Sebokeng and Midway, each excelling in their roles,” she said. Motlhabi’s unwavering dedication has earned her numerous accolades.
In 2011, she was a finalist in the Businesswoman of Soweto Awards, organised by Business Partners. The same year, she won the Rocky Businesswoman Award from First National Bank, receiving silver, bronze, and gold medals. In 2013, she was recognised among The 100 Black Women of Funeral Services during the International Leadership Honoree event.
Just last month, she received the Funeral Parlour and Coffin Manufacturer of the Year 2024 award during the Excellence Awards in the United Kingdom. According to Motlhabi, a mortician must be fearless, as the work involves handling various types of bodies, from those who have died naturally to those in distressing states. “I did this work alone for a long time. It’s challenging and there were times I had no time for myself,” she said.
Her services now include burials, tombstones, cremations, exhumations and funeral plans. Motlhabi admitted that she was once afraid of dead bodies, but she has since overcome that fear. “I don’t know where I found the bravery, but it’s allowed me to grow my business and manage grief. I’m now a comforter to those who are mourning,” said the former board member of the Soweto Funeral Undertakers Association, where she served as the only woman for seven years. To promote her business, Motlhabi relies on word of mouth, radio interviews, a website, branded vehicles and premises and social media. Her dedication has earned her recognition in South Africa, Lesotho, and Mozambique.
