Icebolethu Group
What does your company do?
Icebolethu Group is one of South Africa’s leading Funeral Assurance Group providing a centre of excellence and leading provider of dignified burial solutions. Icebolethu Group has a 15-year history in the funeral industry, with the goal of becoming the leading Funeral Parlour Group in South Africa, and the SADC region.
With over 2000 employees with various skills, servicing an approximately 500 000 members in South Africa, SADC, and the United Kingdom (UK), the multi-skilled Icebolethu Team ensures that all investments made by our members remain in safe hands. The services of the 12 subsidiaries divisions under Icebolethu Group are centered around the company motto of being “Dedicated to the care of those we serve”.
To ensure clients have a full suite of services Icebolethu Group has various divisions catering to each component of the business to ensure service excellence.
What is your biggest success?
My biggest success has been growing Icebolethu from a single funeral services branch into a nationally respected brand with over 140 branches across five provinces, supported by multiple subsidiaries. We’ve introduced innovative offerings like the iSave app, which allows clients to save and enjoy rewards at various outlets — encouraging them to live meaningfully even as they prepare for the future. We’ve also launched iMobile and iTravel to make our services more accessible. Most importantly, establishing the Icebolethu Foundation remains closest to my heart — through it, we’ve supported thousands of schoolchildren with uniforms and supplies and provided ongoing community upliftment. Seeing lives transformed through both business and service has been the most fulfilling part of this journey.
What has been your biggest hurdle?
My greatest hurdle was entering and thriving in the male-dominated funeral industry. As the only woman in many industry meetings, I often had to assert myself multiple times to be acknowledged. Early on, I faced skepticism and resistance from established players who doubted my capabilities. Additionally, starting Icebolethu without financial backing meant I had to sell personal belongings to fund the business. At times, I even lived in my office with my children, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. These challenges tested my resilience, but they also fueled my determination to succeed and pave the way for other women in the industry.
