Dear Esteemed Women of SAFPA,

As we step into the month dedicated to honouring women, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate you — the phenomenal women who form the heart and strength of the South African Funeral Practitioners Association – SAFPA.

The funeral industry is not for the faint-hearted. It demands resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment. As women, you carry these qualities in abundance. You have stood in boardrooms, negotiated with industry stakeholders, comforted grieving families, and ensured that dignity remains at the centre of our work — all while managing the demands of business and life.

Being a woman is not a disability. It is a strength. God has equipped us with the wisdom, courage, and determination to lead and to thrive. Challenges will come, and there will be moments when the road feels uphill — but it is in those moments that our true strength is revealed.

This Women’s Month, I urge you to rise above every obstacle, to silence the voices of doubt, and to believe in the greatness that lies within you. Let us commit to excellence in all we do, not seeking sympathy for our gender, but proving — through our results — that we are capable, innovative, and unstoppable.

Look around you: women in every corner of our nation are breaking barriers, building legacies, and making history in industries once closed to them. You are part of that story. Your work is valuable, your voice matters, and your contribution is shaping the future of the funeral industry in South Africa.

As your President, I believe in you. I believe in your businesses. I believe in the power of women to transform this industry for the better. And I know that the best is yet to come — because God has placed greatness within you.

May this Women’s Month be a time of renewed vision, deeper courage, and greater achievements. Together, let’s rise, lead, and inspire.

With admiration and solidarity,
Dr. Nomfundo Mcoyi-Zondo
SAFPA President.