While South Africa is diverse one thing all of us seem to have in common is that dignity in death is important and Dignity usually costs money. 
According to a 2016 report by the South African Local Government Association, between 2009 and 2012, burial was consistently the preferred practice across all eight metropolitan municipalities. 
Another research paper, “Paying the Piper: The high cost of funerals in SA” analysed the funeral arrangements of almost 4000 people between 2003 - 2005, found that on average, households spent the equivalent of a year's income on an adult funeral.
While citizens may be notoriously underinsured and not adequately prepared for eventualities such as retirement, funeral cover currently retains its place of importance.