By: Siphosethu Shongwe (Customer Service & Marketing Graduate Trainee) – Old Mutual Eswatini
Mbabane, 25 June 2026: Nobody likes to think about death. It is uncomfortable and in many Swazi households it is considered bad luck to even speak of it openly. When a loved one passes, grief is overwhelming enough. However, when that grief is compounded by borrowed money to cover funeral costs and the quiet humiliation of a send off that falls short of the dignity the deceased deserved, that can push even a stable family into a spiral of debt that lasts for years. The question then, is not whether you should plan for the inevitable, it is whether you can afford not to. Old Mutual Eswatini’s Sizotsa Funeral Cover is designed precisely to answer that question, offering Swazis a reliable, dignified and financially sound way to protect their families when it matters most.
Funerals Cost More Than Families Realise
A dignified funeral in Eswatini is not cheap. Between the coffin, the mortuary, the burial site, catering for mourners, transport and the inevitable miscellaneous costs, a family can easily find themselves staring at a bill of E20 000 or more sometimes in a matter of days. For most households, that sum does not sit idle in a bank account waiting to be called upon. It has to come from somewhere: a personal loan with interest, a withdrawal from a savings plan or a round of collections from family members who are themselves grieving.
These debts do not disappear after the burial. They follow the surviving family for months, sometimes years, adding a financial burden on top of an emotional one. Sizotsa Funeral Cover was designed to eliminate exactly this scenario. When you hold a Sizotsa policy, the funds are already there. No loans and no compromises on how your loved one is laid to rest
A Pay out in 24 Hours Because Grief Does not wait
Sizotsa Funeral Cover pays out a single lump sum benefit within 24 hours of a valid claim being lodged. That speed is not a mere convenience, it is a lifeline. It means your family can bury your loved one with the dignity and honour they deserve without scrambling for loans or burdening neighbours and relatives.
Cover premiums start from E18 and pay out amounts range from E10 000 to E80 000, giving every Swazi household, regardless of income level, the ability to choose a plan that fits their budget and their needs. Whether you are just starting your career at 18 or securing your legacy before 70, Sizotsa Funeral Cover meets you where you are.
One amount till the End: Your Premium Never Accumulates
Sizotsa Funeral Cover is designed to remain consistent in your budget, your monthly premium does not accumulate interest. You pay a fixed, predictable amount every month and that amount remains exactly what it is. There are no compounding charges, no penalty interest for having covered your family for many years and no hidden escalations tied to interest rates. This makes Sizotsa a refreshingly transparent product, what you sign up for is precisely what you pay. For financially conscious households, this is not just reassuring, it is a cornerstone of sound, long term financial planning.
Protecting the Whole Family with Just One Policy and One Premium.
The loss of any family member not just the breadwinner, carries financial weight. The death of a parent, a grandparent or even a child brings its own funeral costs and its own emotional toll. Sizotsa addresses this with two tailored plans. The Individual Plan: Sizotsa Sakho, covers the main member only whilst the Family Plan: Sizotsa Semndeni, extends protection to the main member, up to two spouses (for males who are legally married to two spouses) and up to six children. Beyond the immediate household, policyholders can add:
• Up to two parents and two parents in law
• Up to two grandparents
• Up to three aunts and three uncles
• Additional spouses and children of the life assured
Each covered member brings their own potential funeral cost and their own potential debt. By consolidating the entire family under one Sizotsa policy, you eliminate each of those risks in a single, affordable monthly payment, no medicals required. No family member who matters to you is left uncovered
Income Stabilization: Supporting Your Family beyond the Funeral
Sizotsa goes beyond the funeral itself. As an optional add on, policyholders can elect a monthly stabilisation income benefit, payable to their dependants for six consecutive months following the policyholder’s death.
This stabilisation income acts as a financial bridge, giving the surviving household time to grieve and make measured decisions without the pressure of immediate financial collapse. It is this kind of forward thinking design that transforms Sizotsa from a simple funeral policy into a genuine financial planning instrument
The Real Cost Of Not Planning
It is easy to postpone decisions about death culturally and emotionally, it feels unnecessary. Consider the reality, loans carry interest, savings carry opportunity cost and the goodwill of family and friends is not a financial strategy.
Sizotsa Funeral Cover by contrast, requires a modest monthly premium, starting as low as E18 per month. The earlier you start, the longer your family is protected, and the more ingrained the habit of financial planning becomes in your household. Sign up for Sizotsa Funeral cover online by sending “Hi” on WhatsApp to 76720073, funeral cover made in Eswatini for Emaswati.
