By Bongiwe Dlamini
MBABANE – In a bid to professionalise the funeral services industry and streamline regulations, funeral practitioners in Eswatini have come together to form the Eswatini Association of Funeral Practitioners (EFPA).
The association was unveiled yesterday (Tuesday, October 15, 2024) at a press conference held at the Business Eswatini (BE) War Room. Spearheaded by local funeral undertakers, the association aims to give the industry a unified voice to engage with Government, regulatory bodies, and international counterparts.
Speaking during the announcement of the association, Musa Vilakati, the chairperson, emphasised the importance of professionalising the industry to improve service delivery and ensure compliance with Eswatini’s legal framework.
“This association will act as the voice of licensed funeral undertakers when engaging with the government and other regulating bodies. We want to make sure the expectations are clear—both from the profession and from our clients. It’s also about building stronger relationships with relevant professional and labour organizations, locally and internationally,” Vilakati said.
The association represents 22 out of 25 licensed funeral undertakers operating across Eswatini, with the hope of increasing its membership in the near future. The group aims to tackle the challenges faced by the funeral industry, including navigating legislative regulations, improving service standards, and educating the public about what to expect from funeral practitioners.
Among its key objectives, the association seeks to enhance the capacity and professionalism of funeral directors and their staff. Vilakati noted that many funeral businesses are family-owned, and there has been a lack of formal training in the sector.
“We want to turn funeral services into a recognised profession, with people choosing it not out of desperation but as a career path that requires empathy, commitment, and specialised skills,” Vilakati said.
The association also plans to address various roles within the funeral industry, including funeral directors, embalmers, and funeral attendants, ensuring that all are properly trained and regulated. Vilakati described the management of funerals as a “specialised type of event management,” underscoring the need for professional expertise.
The formation of the association comes at a critical time, with Government recently approving the Citizens’ Empowerment Act. The Act aims to support local businesses in various sectors, including funerals. Vilakati highlighted that the association intends to ensure local funeral businesses benefit from this legislation, particularly in cases where repatriation is required.
“Eswatini citizens sometimes pass away in other countries, or foreign nationals pass away here and need to be repatriated. We want to make sure that regulations cover these scenarios without frustrating grieving families,” Vilakati added.
The association has also established relationships with international counterparts, including the South African Funeral Practitioners Association. This collaboration aims to ensure smoother cross-border cooperation and to share best practices with neighboring countries.
Echoing the chairman’s remarks, the Head of Trade and Commerce at Business Eswatini, Musa Maseko, expressed appreciation for the association’s objectives. He noted that indeed there is a need for a lot of collaboration in the industry, considering the personal nature of the space. He pledged BE’s commitment to working with the association in advancing its objectives.
The association’s formal launch is scheduled for October 29, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Hotel, where it will hold its first Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM will involve adopting the association’s constitution, electing leadership, and discussing key policies. The event will be followed by a public gala dinner to officially introduce the association to the wider community, government officials, and international guests.
