By: Zethu Gweva
At the age of 13 Sinalo Witfoot, now 29, started working at her family’s funeral parlour not knowing that one day as young as she is she would be part of the male-dominated industry and have her own Totana funeral services.
The Mdantsane born businesswoman said the funeral parlour was established in 2012 with merely R250 in their pocket.
“After my parents divorced when I was 15, I tried to commit suicide and after completing my matric I decided to venture into the funeral business and see where it would take me,” said Witfoot.
In-addition, Witfoot said they have more than 10 branches in the Eastern Cape, the main branch being in Mqanduli, two branches in East London, Middledrift, and eight branches in former Transkei.
When BCM News asked her reasons why she decided to continue with the funeral service business she said it brings her joy to work with different people, being able to help families that cannot afford to give their loved one’s decent burials.
“This business used to make a lot of money, but that is beside the point. It is just affording families the opportunity to bury their loved one with dignity and we provide that for them,” she said.
Talking about how men treat her in the industry being a young woman who runs a funeral parlour, she said some undermine her and think she is not capable of running a parlour, some are intimidated by her saying she has guts driving corpses in a hearse by herself.
“At times I find it difficult in this field because people undermine me since I am too young, sometimes they don’t believe I can be able to render services to them, but I always prove them otherwise, my biggest challenge is being a female, in a male-dominated industry,” she said.
Witfoot expressed that If one wants to run this kind of business, they must be hardworking and must know that today you could be boss and tomorrow you can be driving a hearse and handling dead bodies.
“It is not easy, it needs dedication and love,” she said.
For inquiries about Totana funeral services, get in touch with Sinalo Witfoot by calling 0742383451 or 0842563175.