Funeral costs have increased significantly in recent years. In South Africa, funeral insurance companies offer clients access to a range of options for their funeral needs. What has become common though is the rise in expenditure towards funeral costs.
Some people may wonder how much actually goes into organising a funeral.
Here’s what you need to know about the costs of a funeral:
In South Africa, statistics show that a simple funeral can cost up to R15 000, which includes essentials such as a casket, catering and transport.
The most expensive part of a funeral tends to be the casket, while a grave site and cost anything between R1500 and R6000.
Fees charged by funeral parlours include the removal of the deceased, processing of documentation, storing of the body, caring for and preparing the body, buying a coffin as well as use of a hearse. These costs can range between R4000 and R20 000.
Hiring a tent can cost anything between R500 and R5000, while catering costs can cost anything between R1000 to R20 000, depending on the needs of the family.
Cremation is also an option for some people, which also comes with its own set of costs. A cremation can cost about R5000 at a funeral parlour, while a chapel cremation can cost as much as R9000.
There are costs involved in transporting the body from the place of death to the funeral parlour- which is generally covered by a funeral parlour fee. In South Africa, repatriation comes at a fee of R5000.
According to Tembisa Marele, communications at the Financial Services Board, funeral insurance contributed R4.9 billion to the income of the long-term insurance industry. This shows that more people are saving for the costs of a funeral.
