Durban — When Dr Nomfundo Mcoyi‑Zondo resigned from classroom teaching in 2009 she did not set out to build an industry leader. Sixteen years later her company, Icebolethu Group, operates more than 200 branches across South Africa and has expanded into the United Kingdom, a trajectory that has brought national recognition and new responsibilities in the funeral sector.
From Inanda Zwakele Primary to business leadership
Mcoyi‑Zondo taught at Inanda Zwakele Primary School from 1996 until she left the classroom in 2009 to found Icebolethu in December that year. The company began as a single parlour and has grown into one of the country’s most recognisable funeral services groups. She is now 51 and has the distinction of becoming the first woman elected president of the South African Funeral Practitioners Association (SAFPA), the national body that represents funeral directors and parlour owners.
Her rise reflects both personal determination and an ability to translate community knowledge into a business model that serves grieving families and creates employment across provinces.
Putting staff welfare at the centre
In recent interviews Mcoyi‑Zondo has emphasised the group’s approach to staff welfare, saying management must respond to the pressures of a high cost of living. She told a local radio station that the company provides pension benefits to employees at all levels and offers a daily free lunch as part of efforts to sustain productivity.
“We offer proper benefits for our people pension fund, no matter what level you’re in, what category you’re in. We give free lunch every day to our staff to ensure productivity. The economy is not good and honestly, even if we are paying what we need to be paying, it’s still not enough.”
She argued these measures are necessary because rising costs such as diesel and petrol affect both staff and operational expenses. The focus on employee support is notable in a sector where small, informal operators often dominate local markets.
Growth, dignity and community service
Icebolethu’s expansion has allowed it to offer more than funeral services. Mcoyi‑Zondo highlighted the company’s work through a foundation and various programmes that assist families, noting the group’s aim is to provide dignified funerals while generating employment.
She described her initial decision to start a funeral parlour as modest: a small venture that, with time and faith, became a national brand. “I’m grateful that God has grown it to be the brand that it is today. We can assist so many families [by] giving dignified funerals and also with employing the number of staff that we employ and everything that we do through our foundation, and many other programs,” she said.
Sector leadership and standards
SAFPA plays a regulatory and advocacy role for the industry, promoting standards and speaking to sector challenges such as unregistered parlours. Mcoyi‑Zondo called her election to the presidency “humbling”, a milestone that positions her to influence national policy and industry practice.
Her leadership comes at a time when the funeral industry faces questions about regulation, service standards and financial pressure on operators and customers alike. Having someone with operational experience and a focus on staff welfare at the association’s helm may shift attention to both compliance and worker protections.
- Founded: December 2009
- Founder: Dr Nomfundo Mcoyi‑Zondo (former primary school teacher)
- Branches: More than 200 across South Africa, plus presence in the United Kingdom
- Notable role: First woman president of SAFPA
What this means for KZN communities
Icebolethu’s origins in KwaZulu‑Natal and Mcoyi‑Zondo’s background in Inanda underscore the continued importance of local entrepreneurship as a source of jobs and services. Funeral parlours are often among the most resilient small businesses in townships and peri‑urban areas because of the cultural importance of funeral rites. A larger, formalised operator can offer benefits such as regulated pricing, accredited services and staff protections that smaller informal operators may not provide.
At a practical level, employees in the company benefit from pensions and meals, according to Mcoyi‑Zondo, while families served by the group access what she describes as dignified funerals and community support programmes managed through the company’s foundation.
As South Africa marked Women’s Day, Mcoyi‑Zondo’s story — a teacher turned business leader and sector representative — adds to a growing list of local entrepreneurs who have scaled services from township roots to national reach. Her presidency at SAFPA also signals a step towards greater female representation in industry leadership.
Icebolethu’s next steps, whether further regional expansion or deeper engagement with regulatory reform, will be watched by peers in the sector and by residents across KZN who recognise the personal and community value of structured, locally grown businesses.
