Big Issue at home: Vendor care and well-being

Words: Melody Gombakomba

It is every person’s desire to be buried in a dignified manner. In the event of a death, most African families pull their resources together to make sure that a loved one is given a proper send-off. In as much as people strive to bury the deceased with dignity, funerals have become expensive because of the high cost of living. There is a lot of money that is needed for a burial, and in this economy, money is something that most people are struggling to come by, especially our vendors. In African societies, people have seen the need to start their own burial societies so that they can assist each other in the event of a death in a family. In these burial societies, people can pay from as little as R10 every month so they are covered if a tragedy strikes. They pay this money to a trusted person in the community who they call a treasurer, and this person is responsible for bookkeeping and making sure that everything is up to date.

These burial societies have helped so many families during times of bereavement, not only financially but also through labour. People who belong to the same burial society have a mandate to support fellow members by helping to cook food and lighten the burden of the bereaved family in every way possible. However, there have been plenty of incidents where people have been duped out of their hard-earned money that they contribute to the treasurers of certain burial societies. There have been times that these treasurers have taken the funds of the society and used them for their own benefit, and refused to take accountability for their actions or repay the funds. Members are often left stranded when a death occurs after being swindled out of their hard-earned money, which they had thought they were saving for in the event of a family death. Often, opening a case of theft at the police station is of no help because these burial monies are paid to the treasurer on a trust basis, with the members hoping the bookkeeping is being done properly. Sometimes there isn’t any book keeping done at all.

At The Big Issue, the welfare of our vendors is our top priority. We always try and make sure they are covered from all angles in all aspects of their lives. We want to make sure our vendors are covered in times of joy and grief. We have partnered with Lion of Africa Life (Lion Life) Assurance to curate group funeral cover for our vendors, which can help to alleviate their financial burden when a loved one dies. 

The Twilight Group Funeral Cover from Lion Life offers either cover for the family or for the single vendor. There are also choices of cover levels ranging from R5 000 to R30 000, and a vendor can decide which option they would like to choose. This is an affordable funeral plan, which our vendors have welcomed with open arms. Their timely payment of the premiums every month is proof enough!

Funeral cover with Lion Life ensures our vendors do not become victims of dubious burial societies in their community that can scam them of their hard-earned money. It also ensures that they get the benefits that are owed to them. They can mourn their loved ones in peace. Faizel Cariem, CEO of our funeral plan service provider Lion Life, says, “Offering employees a straightforward benefit can aid their financial security while also demonstrating a genuine understanding of and concern for their well-being.” 

As an organisation, we hope to partner with other service providers around the country and the world, to better the lives of our vendors and their families. Our vendors’ livelihoods will forever remain our top priority.