The pandemic ruined our businesses

FINANCIAL STRAIN: Scores of burial society members have had policies lapse after losing jobs as economic crisis caused by pandemic forces companies to shut down.

While the country remained optimistic about containing the spread of the second phase of the dreaded Coronavirus disease, several funeral undertakers in Pretoria and North West were still reeling from the negative financial effects caused by the pandemic.

The economic misery resulting in massive job losses world-wide, has also dealt a deadly blow to several funeral undertakers. Those interviewed in the Pretoria and North West areas lamented the economic losses suffered especially during the lockdown period since March last year. The financial strain was caused by members who had lost their jobs through retrenchments while others became victims of unemployment after their companies folded when the Covid 19 pandemic took its toll.

“ Membership of a number of my clients have lapsed after they failed to pay their monthly premiums,” said Ratau Mphahlele, CEO of Baroka Funerals in North West.

Besides the financial hardships suffered so far, the pandemic has also claimed the lives of those who were in the business of laying to rest those who had departed from these shores. In Atteridgeville, Pretoria a prominent couple who have been in this business for almost 40 years, lost their lives due to the dreaded disease. Elias Ledwaba, who was chairman of Ledwaba Funeral Parlour, passed away on September 28 and his wife, Mahlogonolo Ledwaba, who was her deputy, died on October 12.

Although this was a blow to their children, they have vowed to continue with their legacy. The couple’s nephew, Eugene Skosana, who is general manager of the company, said : “

He also confirmed that the lockdown had financially drained most of the funeral services in the country mainly due to the collapse of a large number of companies which resulted in many of their clients defaulting on their monthly premiums.

“At some stage we could not reach our targets after suffering huge losses. We even had to retrench staff”, said Skosana. Management, he added, was also striving to assure their clients that the company was in safe hands and would continue serving the same way as their grandparents. Most of their clients had doubts about the future of the business after their grandparents died.

“We want to assure our customers that its business as usual and things are getting back to normal after the easing down of the lockdown regulations.”

Both Mphahlele and Skosana however, were optimistic that the country’s economy would recover and their businesses would return to making profits although the pandemic had resulted in their companies recording huge financial losses.

Another owner of a funeral parlour in Pretoria, who declined to disclose his name, said the pandemic almost plunged his business into bankruptcy.

“We almost folded because most our clients could no longer afford the monthly premiums. Business was down and we could not get help from the government. At least things are getting better but it is tough.” Besides the severe trading conditions, the pandemic had also brought some positives in the way they should be running their business. Mphahlele said they had now learnt a lot about the handling of deceased people especially when it related to health issues.

“It has also helped our communities to understand that they can bury their loved ones during the week instead of waiting to bury them at the weekend. This has also removed a lot of pressure from funeral undertakers who used to serve and bury the deceased in crowded cemeteries where there was no room for decency with most families finding themselves in the midst of around five to six burials around them.

“At least since the introduction of lockdown regulations, families were now opting to mostly bury during the week.” Although trading conditions were tough, the funeral undertakers promised their clients that they would do their utmost to save their businesses from dying.