Doves

ABOUT US

Doves Group was established in 1883 as a funeral directing organisation in Durban initially named Doves Funeral Services. Doves Group emerged in 1959 when Homes Trust Funeral Services, through a series of acquisitions, acquired industry respected funeral directing companies such as Goodall & Williams, Doves, Doves & Adlam Reid and Jones & Rice. During the 70’s, Saffas (South African Federation of Funeral Assurance Societies) also became part of Homes Trust Funeral Services.

In 1989, the senior management team purchased the company from Metropolitan Life and changed its name to HT Group. HT Group established its own insurance company, HTG Life in 1993 (now known as Union Life). The name was subsequently changed to Doves Group in 2004. NIC acquired 100% shareholding in Doves Group through Brevity Trade 12 (now called 360 FSG).

Doves Group is one of the largest funeral directing companies in Southern Africa and a major role player in the progressive development of the funeral industry.

Doves Group was the founding member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and is currently the member of South African Funeral Practitioner’s Association (SAFPA) and the Funeral Federation of South Africa (FFSA). Doves Group has influenced the present day structure of the funeral industry.

Doves Group runs a national network in excess of 160 branches in all the 9 provinces, providing insurance, funeral services and related products. Doves Group in an authorized financial services provider with its funeral insurance underwritten by Union Life.

Company Purpose

• The Leading funeral brand in South Africa.
• Delivers a service that will be a celebration of life.
• Creates an environment where our people can grow.
• Provides innovative funeral related services and products to all South African communities.
• Exploits the full extent of the funeral value chain for the benefit of all our stakeholders.

Strategic Objectives

• To develop our people.
• To become the leading funeral brand across all markets.
• To increase the diversity of our income streams.
• To establish a commercial business partnership network.
• To implement efficient and cost-effective business processes.

Vision

To be the first choice for funeral and financial services

Mission

Delivering a service as a celebration of life to all our stakeholders, clients and employees.

Values

• Honesty & Trust
• Passion to Serve
• Respect
• Innovation
• Ownership

SERVICES

A comprehensive service, including restoration art, embalming, exhumations, cremation & chapel facilities, repatriation (national & international) is provided at most parlours. The company subscribes to the highest ethical standards, respecting the dignity of a funeral and being sensitive to the cultural, ethnic and religious needs of all our customers.

The arrangement and conducting of funerals are done through a countrywide network of 160 funeral parlours/offices, where legendary service is the prime objective.

What does Doves offer?

Cover for the Unforeseen

More often than not, the death of a loved one is the most unexpected event we face in the cycle of life. It is not easy to think about planning for a funeral. Taking a little time now and choose from our funeral insurance packages can give you great peace of mind, ensuring that you can have the funeral you want without placing a burden on your loved ones.

Repatriation

Doves provide transport for human remains from the place of death to the place of rest within the borders of South Africa and to the neighboring countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland. This service is also available to National Contracts and Corporates.

Service-Registration of death

You would need to register the death of your loved one within 5 days. Contact nearest Doves Office for assistance.

Caring for the Deceased

Once you entrust your loved one with us, we take care of them with respect and professionalism. Doves provides embalming services if required.

Telling others about the Funeral

Doves can help you place a funeral notice in the local or national newspapers. We can help you draft wording and sending it to the publications, send an SMS, Email or Fax to the family members with an announcement.

Assistance with administration of Policy Claims

Submit your required claim documents at any of the Doves offices nationwide.

Meeting your Needs or Special Requests

The funeral arranging officer will guide you as to what is important in arranging a funeral event, from arranging the church, to the burial or cremation, and the memorial. Doves will communicate with the various entities and inform them of the funeral.

Arrange the funeral event of your loved one

Special needs for the funeral can be discussed with the Funeral arranging officer from music, religious requests, cultural, preferred flowers etc. let us know and we can arrange it.

Burial Services

After the service at a church or chapel, the family proceeds to the graveyard where Doves will assist with the burial. Should you already have a family grave or plot, we can arrange to have it re-opened. After the burial you need to consider a memorial headstone or a new inscription on an existing one.

Cremations and the handling of Ashes

Doves arrange Cremation Services for families who prefer cremation to a burial services. Doves arrange for those families who want to see the Cremation to burial services process. We also assist families who want to scatter ashes.

Memorials

Choose a headstone or memorial to Preserve the memory of a loved one.

Coping with Grief

Normally it is only after the funeral that the family and close members feels the extent of the loss. Visit our website for useful information on how to cope with grief and a list of organizations that can support you emotionally.

Grave Removals or Exhumation

We assist with the removal of a body from a grave and reburial.

Doves Funeral Cover

Doves offer insurance products, which directly address the needs of our customers. Our experience in the funeral industry and healthy relationships with our National Contracts, allows us to create customized solutions for each market.

Our products range from R5 000 to R51 000 cover and we continue to develop tailor made products with added benefits that cater for your family needs.

Doves Insurance offers a basket of products that you can select from – Doves All Nations, Doves All Nations 8, Doves All Nations 12, Doves All Nations Plus+, Doves Funeral Plan, Doves Life Plan and Doves Zimba-Mzansi.