For most people, the funeral industry is associated with grief, tradition and difficult moments. For Dr Nomfundo Mcoyi-Zondo, it became the foundation for something much bigger.
What began as a single funeral parlour in Hammarsdale has grown into the Icebolethu Group — a diversified African business with more than 200 branches, thousands of employees and over half a million policyholders.
But her story isn't simply about building a successful company.
It is about challenging an industry that has remained largely informal, breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated sector, and redefining what African leadership can look like.
In 2025, Dr Mcoyi-Zondo made history as the first female President of the South African Funeral Practitioners Association, placing her at the centre of a sector undergoing major change.
So, what does it take to build an empire around one of life's most difficult moments — and then attempt to transform the industry itself?
We sat down with Dr Nomfundo Mcoyi-Zondo to find out.
Discover the full conversation and the story behind one of Africa's most fascinating business leaders in the latest edition of Africa Talks Business.
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