Martin's Funerals: funeral cover, contact numbers and services

Martin's Funerals is run as a franchise network by Martin's Funerals Franchising (Pty) Ltd, which says it started in Randfontein, Gauteng. Individual branches are franchises, and they are named by town. The site says it has representation in all nine provinces, and its branch locator lists branches with their own 24-hour numbers, for example in Upington, Bloemfontein, George, Mossel Bay, Uitenhage, Jeffreys Bay and Gqeberha.

Because each branch is a franchise, prices and service details can differ from branch to branch. Always get a written quote from the branch that will handle the funeral.

The head office email address uses the martinsdirect.com domain. That is an email address, not a separate Martin's Direct product.

• Martin's national 24/7 emergency number is 0860 911 777; the site says transport of the deceased is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days, with representation in all 9 provinces. (martinsfunerals.co.za)
• Martin's funeral cover is underwritten by African Unity Life Limited (FSP 8447); Martin's Funerals is a registered FSP, FSP 48189. (martinsfunerals.co.za)
• Single funeral cover starts at R110 a month for R15 000 (age 18-64); family cover starts at R155 a month for R15 000; pensioner cover starts at R175 a month; all show a 6-month waiting period. (martinsfunerals.co.za)
• Suicide has a 12-month waiting period on Family +5/+9/+13 and the single pensioner plans. (martinsfunerals.co.za)
• Family plans cover a main member, spouse and up to six children; extended family (aunts, uncles, friends) can be added. (martinsfunerals.co.za)
• Pre-planned funerals let you pay at today's price; the price is reviewed only in two years, payment can be lump sum or over three months, and pre-payments are held in a trust account. (martinsfunerals.co.za)
• Martin's repatriates by road or air to Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique and assists with importing mortal remains to South Africa. (martinsfunerals.co.za)

Plans as Martin's Funerals describes them on its own website on 30 September 2026. Premiums depend on your age, the cover amount and who you add, so the published figures are examples, not quotes.

Extra benefits Martin's Funerals lists:

• Family Funeral Cover: Sapphire / Ruby / Diamond: Family plans comprise a main member, spouse and up to six children; extended family can be added.

Sources: martinsfunerals.co.za/singles-funeral-cover, martinsfunerals.co.za/family-funeral-cover, martinsfunerals.co.za/pensioner-funeral-cover.

Martin's sells four kinds of funeral cover, and the plans table above shows the amounts, ages and premiums.

• Single cover for people aged 18 to 64 comes in Sapphire, Ruby and Diamond. For people aged 65 and older it comes in Emerald, Pearl and Zircon, with Zircon for ages 85 to 100.
• Family cover in Sapphire, Ruby and Diamond covers a principal member aged 18 to 64, a spouse and children, with lower amounts for younger children. Extended family can be added.
• Family +5, +9 and +13 cover R20 000 each for a larger family, with entry ages 18 to 70.
• Pensioner cover in Emerald, Pearl and Zircon is for people aged 65 or older.

The pensioner cover page and the single pensioner page show different premiums for the same plan names. The pensioner page prices appear to include a spouse, but the site does not say so. Check what each premium covers before you agree to it.

All published plans show a six month waiting period. Suicide has a 12 month waiting period on Family +5, +9 and +13 and on the single pensioner plans. Martin's does not use the phrase natural death on its pages, so ask exactly which causes of death the six months applies to.

Checked on 30 September 2026 against Martin's Funerals's official website. Numbers change, so confirm on the linked page before you call. Martin's Funerals will never ask you to pay a claim fee or send money to a new bank account; if a caller does, hang up and phone the official number.

About page: 'a group with 165 outlets countrywide'; pre-planned funerals page: 'We have 170 branches countrywide'; repatriations page: 'representation in all 9 provinces'. Branch locator at https://martinsfunerals.co.za/branch-locator/ lists branches with their own 24/7 numbers (for example Upington, Bloemfontein, George, Mossel Bay, Uitenhage, Jeffreys Bay, Gqeberha). Franchise model: individual branches are franchises. (martinsfunerals.co.za)

Sources: martinsfunerals.co.za, martinsfunerals.co.za/repatriations, martinsfunerals.co.za/franchise-opportunities, martinsfunerals.co.za/branch-locator, martinsfunerals.co.za/about-us.

Martin's lists traditional funerals and both attended and unattended cremation. Unattended cremation is the lower-cost option. It also does exhumations.

Martin's does not publish funeral service prices. Ask your branch for a written quote for exactly what you want.

Pre-planned funerals let you pay at today's price. Martin's says the price is reviewed only after two years, you can pay a lump sum or over three months, and pre-payments are held in a trust account. Ask what happens to the money if you change your mind or if the branch changes hands.

Martin's repatriates by road or air to Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique, and helps bring remains into South Africa. It also offers a planning file called Life File, which you can download in English or Afrikaans.

The site says Martin's Funerals is a registered financial services provider (FSP 48189), with funeral cover underwritten by African Unity Life Limited, an authorised financial services provider (FSP 8447). Ask for the insurer's name on your policy schedule.

The site says transport of the deceased is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through the national number. That is separate from the cover: reaching the hotline does not mean a claim is approved.

Martin's does not publish a claim form, a list of claim documents or a payout time on the pages we checked. Phone the 24-hour number first, then ask the branch or the insurer which documents they need and how long they take. Get the answers in writing.

For the death itself, Home Affairs uses the notice of death form DHA-1663 when it is issued by a doctor. A family member, or a representative the family appoints, must give notice of the death within 72 hours.

If a claim is declined, ask for the reason in writing and the clause it relies on. Waiting periods, unpaid premiums and fraud are the usual reasons. South African rules say an insurer must decide a funeral claim within two business days of receiving every document it requires. If you cannot settle it, complain to the National Financial Ombud Scheme. It is free. Phone 0860 800 900, email [email protected] or use the form on nfosa.co.za.

• Which branch is my contact, and is it a Martin's franchise I can visit?
• Which plan is this, and who is covered at what age?
• What does the premium cover, for example a spouse on a pensioner plan?
• What is the waiting period for each cause of death, and does it restart if I add someone?
• Does the plan pay cash, or does it provide the funeral service?
• Which documents does the insurer need, and how long does it take to pay?
• For a pre-planned funeral, what exactly is fixed, and where is my money held?