FUNERAL INDUSTRY SUMMIT
8AM - 5PM | 14 May 2026
THE TRYST, KRAMERVILLE
SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA
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Giving Back to the Community
The South African Funeral Industry Summit 2026 (SAFIS) brings together industry stakeholders to engage in structured, practical discussion around the evolving role of the funeral insurance and funeral services ecosystem in South Africa.
The funeral industry operates within a complex environment shaped by regulatory requirements, operational risk, payment integrity, service delivery standards, and increasing expectations around accountability and sustainability. At the same time, the sector plays an important role within communities, requiring a careful balance between commercial performance and responsible industry practice.
The 2026 theme, “Giving Back to the Community,” frames a focused exploration of how industry participants can strengthen trust, improve service outcomes, and contribute to long-term sector stability. Discussions will consider how policy design, administration processes, payment systems, compliance frameworks, technology adoption, and governance practices can be aligned to support both operational efficiency and community impact.
SAFIS 2026 convenes funeral parlour owners, administrators, brokers, underwriters, payment and financial infrastructure providers, technology partners, and compliance specialists to examine shared challenges, emerging risks, and practical opportunities for collaboration across the value chain.
Positioned as a high-level business to-business platform, SAFIS is designed to facilitate informed dialogue, commercial alignment, and relationship-building among decision-makers who influence how the industry operates today and evolves into the future.
SAFIS 2026 AGENDA
| Time | Session | Topic | Moderator | Speakers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08:00 - 08:45 | Arrival and Registration | Guest arrival, refreshments, and exhibition opening | — | — |
| 09:00 - 09:15 | Welcome and Opening | Welcome, housekeeping, and opening remarks | Themba Robin | Themba Robin |
| 09:15 - 09:25 | Why SAFIS Exists | Purpose of SAFIS and the importance of collaboration | — | Marius Brits & Stephen Sands |
| 09:25 - 10:00 | 360 Admin & Systems | Growth metrics, reach, and vision for the future | — | Warren Mkhonto |
| 10:00 - 10:45 | Platinum Sponsor Keynote | Strategic industry perspective and market realities | — | TBC (Sponsor Rep) |
| 10:45 - 11:30 | Insurance Panel | Life and Funeral Insurance in SA: Today and Tomorrow | Darius Wyngaardt | TBC |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Comfort Break | Tea, coffee, and informal networking | — | — |
| 12:00 - 12:45 | Payments & Innovation | Payments, Accessibility, and Digital Adoption | Darren Franks | TBC |
| 12:45 - 13:30 | Compliance Fireside Chat | Practical compliance, KYC, and Risk for lower LSM | — | Masthead, Cyclopedic Consulting & FinIntel |
| 13:30 - 14:00 | Special Guest Talk | The Most Valuable Skill in a Changing World | — | Mark Sham |
| 14:00 - 18:00 | Lunch & Networking | Light lunch and exhibition engagement | — | — |
Detailed Panel Discussion Topics
Insurance Panel Discussion
- Affordability versus sustainability in low premium markets
- Persistency and lapse realities in lower LSM segments
- Trust deficits and industry behaviours that erode confidence
- Distribution challenges at grassroots level
- Claims experience versus fraud prevention tension
- Technology adoption limits in low data environments
- Community upliftment beyond marketing initiatives
- Problems requiring industry wide collaboration
Payments and Digital Innovation Panel
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Cash decline myths versus on the ground reality
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Debit order limitations for irregular income earners
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Designing payment models for volatile and seasonal income
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Rural payment constraints and connectivity challenges
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Capitec Pay and the rise of bank led payment rails
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DebiCheck and SASSA linked payments, benefits and friction
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Payment failure as a customer experience issue
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Future proofing payments without excluding vulnerable customers
Compliance, KYC, & Risk Management Fireside Chat
- Compliance versus access to financial products
- KYC challenges in low documentation environments
- Risk based approaches versus blanket controls
- Onboarding speed versus regulatory comfort
- Alignment on joint industry standards
- Realistic use of AI in compliance and risk mitigation
- Bridging the gap between regulatory intent and market reality
WHO IS ATTENDING
COMPANIES ATTENDING SAFIS 2026
The 2026 theme, “Giving Back to the Community,” reflects the industry’s responsibility beyond commercial outcomes.
This theme anchors discussions around responsible business practices, ethical administration, community impact, and the role the funeral industry plays in supporting families, protecting dignity, and strengthening trust at a societal level. It also informs how technology, payments, compliance, and service delivery can be leveraged to create better outcomes for communities, not just balance sheets.
VENUE
The Tryst
Kramerville
Sandton Johannesburg
SAFIS 2026 SPONSORS
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
EXHIBITOR
