Undertaker marks 60 years in business
Maziya Funeral undertaker in Alexandra marks 60 years in the business of offering clients a lasting dignity for their late loved ones.
Maziya Funerals in Alexandra marks 60 years in business this year and is a rare, shining example of an African intergenerational family business that has stood the test of time and managed to be passed down for three generations.
First established in Alexandra in 1962, the company now has branches in Katlehong, Soweto, Vosloorus, Vrede in the Free State and Secunda in Mpumalanga.
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The business was started by Ben Sibeko and was inherited by his son Sipho when Ben passed on in 1990.
Sipho fathered Taru, who has since taken over the reins of the funeral parlour following the retirement of his father as managing director.
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The company has survived the cutthroat competition in the industry over years and is still forging ahead with its community work of providing lasting dignity to the departed.
Taru (30) was born in Soweto and says this year marks Maziya’s 60th Anniversary with multiple branches having been opened and many more being planned. “I’m preparing for yet another generational legacy and expansion of the company to ensure it continues to survive for generations and becomes the leading light of a successful African-owned and operated business.
Taru was educated at Bishop Bavin School in Bedfordview until he matriculated in 2010 and later studied hospitality management at the International Hotel School in Sandton.
Taru is engaged to his fiancé Vanessa Hobgan and has a five-year-old son. Vanessa works for her family business which was started by her father.
“This is a cutthroat business as there is always a new undertaker opening every day but I have learnt to appreciate the stiff competition as it enables one to think on your feet and always be innovative if you want to survive, as we have done in the past six decades,” Taru says.
He attributes this success to ‘continuously doing market research and knowing what people like, at the same time not losing the dignity and professionalism that we’ve built over the years. to be as relevant as his competitors.
His advice to aspiring young entrepreneurs is to implore them to do their research before starting a business in order to make sure they go about it the right way by having all the right certificates, as shortcuts will cause their businesses to fail before they even start.
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He urges community members looking for an undertaker to bury their loved one to watch out for pirate undertakers who will promise them heaven on earth when they are just preying on mourners and are often not registered and normally don’t have offices.
“They will collect premiums from people and when it’s time for them to deliver they disappear. It’s always good to remember the importance of the job you are doing as an undertaker; a funeral is the last gift someone can give their loved one and so you have to be very sensitive,” Taru explains.
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