Orchestras, mocktails, couches at the gravesite - services provided by Most Stylish Funeral Award winners
Matjokane Funeral Services won the award at South Africa's inaugural National Funeral Business Awards.
Dan Corder (in for CapeTalk's John Maytham) chats to Sylvester Hlongwane, marketing manager for Matjokane Funeral Services.
The funeral business is big business in South Africa, with families prepared to spend up to R2 million to give their loved one a memorable send-off.
The inaugural National Funeral Business Awards held recently featured 16 categories, recognising everything from Professionalism and Community Involvement to Best Décor and Best Grave Setup.
While we might not immediately associate the words 'style' and 'funeral', there was a Most Stylish Funeral Award, won by Pretoria's Matjokane Funeral Services.
Dan Corder asks marketing manager Sylvester Hlongwane what it takes to provide five-star service in a funeral setting.
It's all about what services are offered at the gravesite, Hlongwane says.
"When someone close to you dies you feel sad, you feel confused, demotivated... The style part comes in when you get to the cemetery and realise 'I'm not here to mourn but to celebrate the life of a loved one'."
Sylvester Hlongwane, Marketing Manager - Matjokane Funeral Services
"We make it feel like you are at a five-star event."
Sylvester Hlongwane, Marketing Manager - Matjokane Funeral Services
As Hlongwane puts it, as an undertaker striving to do better, you need to 'think outside the box'.
You can't just bring a coffin and put out chairs for the attendees, he says.
When mourners are sweltering in hot summer weather for instance, Matjokane Funeral Services now offers a novel option in place of water.
"We came up with the idea of giving mocktails at the funeral... You're hot, you're tired and sad; you get a mocktail that looks so beautiful and you just sip and it fills your heart."
Sylvester Hlongwane, Marketing Manager - Matjokane Funeral Services
"When it comes to innovation, instead of using chairs you provide couches... We also offer you a six-piece orchestra with violins, cellos, trumpets..."
Sylvester Hlongwane, Marketing Manager - Matjokane Funeral Services
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview