Nyaradzo funeral plans in South Africa: repatriation to Zimbabwe, waiting period and contacts

Nyaradzo is a Zimbabwean funeral group. Its South African arm is Nyaradzo Financial Services (South Africa), which describes itself as a member of the Nyaradzo Group. A sister site, Nyaradzo Funeral Services, lists the funeral services side. The name "nyaradzo" means comfort.

The South African plan is for Zimbabweans who live in South Africa and want their loved one brought home for burial. It also covers their family members who live in Zimbabwe. If you have no need for repatriation and only want a local South African burial, a local parlour or an ordinary funeral policy may be simpler. Our page on funeral parlour or funeral cover explains the difference.

Nyaradzo also lists funeral services on their own, not only under the plan: chapel services, funeral transport, coffins and caskets, and body removal and embalming.

• Nyaradzo's South African offering is the Sahwira International Plan (SIP) for Zimbabweans resident in South Africa who want repatriation to Zimbabwe; it also covers family members resident in Zimbabwe. (nyaradzofinancial.co.za)
• The South African SIP has a 3 month waiting period before benefits can be claimed (not 6 months). (nyaradzofinancial.co.za)
• Four published tiers: family premiums of R169, R189, R266 and R462 with cash options of R30,000, R35,000, R40,000 and R60,000, each including air expatriation from South Africa to Zimbabwe and a minibus or hearse to Zimbabwe. (nyaradzofinancial.co.za)
• Repatriation paperwork listed by Nyaradzo includes passport, death certificate, burial order, embalming certificate, infectious/non-infectious certificate and a coroner certificate or permit to repatriate. (nyaradzofuneral.co.za)
• Nyaradzo lists SA offices in Randburg, Cape Town (Belgravia) and Gqeberha (Newton Park), all with the same number 087 365 3221. (nyaradzofinancial.co.za)
• Premiums can be paid at Shoprite, PEP and Boxer. (nyaradzofinancial.co.za)
• Nyaradzo Funeral Services in SA also lists chapel services, funeral transport, coffins and caskets, and body removal and embalming as stand-alone services, not only under the plan. (nyaradzofuneral.co.za)

Plans as Nyaradzo 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 Nyaradzo lists:

• Sahwira International Plan (SIP), Gold: Body removal and storage; washing, dressing and embalming; assistance with documentation; casket; grave site equipment; 14 seater minibus or hearse to Zimbabwe; 64 seater bus (place of mourning to burial); air expatriation from South Africa to Zimbabwe.
• Sahwira International Plan (SIP), Diamond: Same listed services as Gold (all marked Available).
• Sahwira International Plan (SIP), Platinum: Same listed services as Gold (all marked Available).
• Sahwira International Plan (SIP), Premium: Same listed services as Gold (all marked Available).

Sources: nyaradzofinancial.co.za/service.

Checked on 30 September 2026 against Nyaradzo's official website. Numbers change, so confirm on the linked page before you call. Nyaradzo 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.

South African offices listed: Randburg (Hammer, Langwa St, Strydompark, 2169), Cape Town (8 End St, Belgravia, 7530), Gqeberha (277-281 Cape Road, Newton Park, Greenacres). (nyaradzofinancial.co.za)

Sources: nyaradzofinancial.co.za/contact, nyaradzofinancial.co.za, nyaradzofuneral.co.za/service.

Repatriation is the arrangement and transport of a body from South Africa to Zimbabwe for burial. On the South African Sahwira International Plan, all four tiers (Gold, Diamond, Platinum and Premium) list it. Each includes air expatriation from South Africa to Zimbabwe and a minibus or hearse to Zimbabwe. The listed services also include body removal and storage, washing, dressing and embalming, help with documentation, a casket and grave site equipment.

The tiers differ in the cash option and the grocery allowance. The plans table above shows the amounts, so they are not repeated here.

Nyaradzo also lists document processing as a service. Ask in writing what it covers and who pays for anything that is not on the plan.

Nyaradzo South Africa states a 3 month waiting period before you can claim benefits. A separate Nyaradzo site for Zimbabwe and the global plan gives a longer waiting period of six months. Make sure the policy you are given is the South African one, and get the waiting period in writing.

The rules cap the waiting period for natural death at six months, and no waiting period may apply to death by accident.

Other points to confirm:

• The premium table on the South African site is headed Family Premium (ZAR) and does not say "per month" in those words. Confirm how often you pay and what the amount covers.
• The family premium covers the principal member, the spouse and children below 23. Other dependants and older children cost an additional premium.
• Premiums can be paid at Shoprite, PEP and Boxer. Keep the receipts.
• Ask for the full policy terms before you pay, and whether the cover is cash, services or both at the time of a claim.

For repatriation to Zimbabwe, Nyaradzo lists these documents:

• The deceased's passport (the pages showing the name, picture and dates)
• The death certificate
• The burial order
• The embalming certificate
• An infectious or non-infectious certificate
• A coroner certificate or permit to repatriate

A postmortem report may also be needed, depending on the cause of death. Nyaradzo also lists a declaration affidavit about non-hazardous or flammable goods, which the undertaker provides.

If the passport is expired or lost, the next of kin writes an affidavit explaining what happened. Nyaradzo says the Zimbabwean Consulate normally helps, but it is at the Consulate's discretion.

Nyaradzo does not publish a claims page or a payout time for South Africa. Phone the number in the contact table and ask what to do first. Separately, a notice of death must be given to Home Affairs within 72 hours by a family member or a representative the family appoints.

Nyaradzo states that its South African business is an authorised financial services provider, and that its cover is underwritten by Nyaradzo Financial Services, which it describes as a micro insurer. Both are Nyaradzo's own statements. We could not confirm either on the FSCA or Prudential Authority registers.

Please check before you pay:

• Ask Nyaradzo for its FSP number and its micro insurance number, in writing.
• Search for the FSP number on the FSCA register of authorised financial services providers and confirm the name matches. The FSCA toll-free line is 0800 110 443.
• Check that the insurer appears on the Prudential Authority's list of licensed insurers.

If a claim is declined, ask for the reason in writing. You can then complain to Nyaradzo at [email protected], and to the National Financial Ombud, which is free to use. Phone 0860 800 900 or use nfosa.co.za/submit-a-complaint/.