Icebolethu Group was established in 2009 by Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Nomfundo Mcoyi-Zondo who was inspired by the need for a reputable funeral service provider, particularly in black communities. Through hard work, unwavering dedication, and ambition, fourteen years later, Icebolethu Group has over one hundred and thirty customer service branches and 32 mortuaries, two call centres, a training academy, and admin offices in Durban and Johannesburg.

Eight years ago, Icebolethu Group opened a branch in London, England specifically to take care of South Africans and SADC nationals living and working in the United Kingdom (icebolethuinternational.com). The London branch mainly offers repatriation and funeral cover for SADC residents living in the UK.

Within Icebolethu Funerals is Icebolethu Corporate which offers group scheme funeral cover that provides products and services to individuals belonging to group schemes such as companies, churches, stokvels, associations, and similar groups. The aim is to make Icebolethu Group accessible to all those who need it and through partnerships with bigger organisations, members are covered and get Icebolethu benefits through the scheme funeral cover. The company also has a fleet centre, an academy for staff training and two call centres.

The company’s motto, ‘We do life with you’ is shown through the company offering lifestyle products to its clients through partnerships with brands like Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Ster Kinekor, Nu Metro, The Foschini Group, Steers, Milky Lane, Woodford Car Hire, and other established brands. The company has also partnered with a payment portal company, allowing its members to pay their premiums at many retailers across the country.

The organisation provides a 24-hour call centre service and has packages designed to suit the desired target audience to ensure maximum customer satisfaction. The vision of Icebolethu Group is to be the centre of excellence in the funeral Industry. This influences the ethos and organisational culture of the company and is filtered throughout the organisation within all structures and departments.

Icebolethu Group is also guided by five values namely providing an efficient and effective service without compromising industry standards, acting with honesty and integrity, providing a zero-defect service, creating a safe, healthy, and stimulating environment for employees, and providing effective social corporate investments that will benefit the greater society.

Teamwork is an essential part of any profession which is why all Icebolethu staff members are trained to become part of the team, bringing their skills, experience, and expertise, thus ensuring that their input in the workplace benefits the entire organisation.

Icebolethu Group has a staff complement of over 1 700 employees, with the majority of employees from communities in which Icebolethu branches are located. As the company expands, the number of employees will continue to increase, making Icebolethu Group a key employer not only within the province, but across SA as they rollout more branches in Gauteng and more.

Funeral planning requires many resources and manpower which is why certain tasks and equipment are outsourced to smaller companies within townships and rural areas. This commitment to supplier development helps to grow the businesses of black owned companies.

Regarded as a lifestyle brand, Icebolethu Group provides services, solutions, and benefits that their clients enjoy for a full life cycle; while alive, at passing, and after life. For the past 14 years, Icebolethu Group has strived to be of quality service to their clients and has continuously reviewed their products and services to suit client needs. With the inclusion of a Catering, Inkomo, and Tombstone plan that serve as additional top-ups, families are guaranteed peace of mind during their time of bereavement.

Icebolethu Foundation was established in 2015 after the need to reinvest in the communities that the company serves was identified by its management. The Foundation is now providing aid to communities within KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng with the aim of uplifting, empowering, and facilitating change by developing sustainable solutions for the youth and the elderly. As a socially responsible organisation driven by African values, the group celebrates our country’s diversity and cultural wisdom. The key focus of the Foundation includes education, orphans, and vulnerable children and supporting sustainable living for the elderly. These projects include a home building initiative, where much-needed dignified and fully furnished homes for families in need are built throughout KwaZulu-Natal, and the recently introduced Computer Centres which are located in rural areas to close the information gap for school students.

The Foundation has a few agricultural projects to aid poverty-stricken communities through donations of water tanks, seedlings, and gardens where Icebolethu purchases land for farmers to commercialise their crops in different regions of KwaZulu-Natal. The principal project within the Foundation is the Rhoda Girls, which is a programme very close to the heart of Dr Nomfundo Mcoyi-Zondo who wanted to give young ladies from disadvantaged backgrounds a better opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. The programme has benefited over hundred girls between the ages of 13 – 21 whom Icebolethu grooms over five years. This is done through workshops, camps, and mentorship programmes. The ladies are also assisted financially with school and tertiary fees, transport, and school stationery.