The Grim Business of Covid-19 Sweeping South Africa
- Pandemic death toll is fueling demand for funeral insurance
- Funerals are expensive in nation with record-high jobless rate
A fresh grave awaits a funeral service at West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 24.
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/BloombergA wall hoarding about 20-meters tall with an advertisement by South Africa’s oldest burial house, Avbob, looms over people entering downtown Johannesburg. “Standing strong for our people. We are here for you. Since 1918,” it reads.
In the city center, which was among sites hit by last week’s unrest, there are signs for funeral-cover packages everywhere in the midst of hawkers selling chicken kebabs, corn on the cob, electronics, fresh fruit, clothes and wigs. In a store front, employees of insurance company Two Mountains said its agents across the city have been handing out flyers with plans that include a “prince dome cherry casket.” Across the street, a grocery shop has a sign in the doorway offering funeral insurance for as little as 2 rand ($0.14) a day. Airwaves are flooded with burial-cover ads and supermarket chains like Shoprite are bombarding clients with offers of funeral help to shop with them.