From KZN teacher to more than 200 funeral parlour branches, including one in UK
The funeral parlour was founded in December 2009.
Born in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Nomfundo Mcoyi-Zondo transformed from a primary school teacher to a prominent businesswoman and leader in South Africa's funeral industry. After teaching at Inanda Zwakele Primary School from 1996 to 2009, she founded the Icebolethu Group, which expanded to over 200 branches nationwide and internationally in the UK.
Mcoyi-Zondo made history as the first woman elected as president of the South African Funeral Practitioners Association (SAFPA), an organization advocating for industry standards and professional growth. As a pioneer in a predominantly male-dominated field, she credits her success to determination and the willingness to start a business, despite lacking resources.
Mcoyi-Zondo emphasizes the importance of employee benefits and support to cope with the rising cost of living, offering pension funds, daily free lunches, and other assistance. Over the years, Icebolethu has become a household name, appearing on South African soap operas and even internationally on Netflix's Polygamist. The company's commitment to excellence is evident in its repatriation services, such as the recent case of former South African police minister Nathi Mthethwa, whose body was flown back to South Africa for burial.
Mcoyi-Zondo urges young entrepreneurs to start their businesses without waiting for the perfect moment, as funding should be a bonus rather than a prerequisite.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
