Repatriation: A crucial service that brings loved ones home
SPONSORED - In times of loss, the concept of home takes on a deeper meaning. For families who have lost a loved one away from home - whether abroad or within the country - repatriation, the process of bringing them back to their place of origin, becomes more than just a logistical necessity. It is an emotional journey.
During Workers' Month in May, we shine a spotlight on repatriation. As the world becomes increasingly connected and remote work grows more common, more people - whether high-flying professionals or everyday families - are re-evaluating where they truly want to live.
Whether guided by cultural traditions, a desire for a final resting place among ancestors, or the comfort of familiarity, repatriating a departed loved one is a way of honouring their life and legacy. In a globalised world, it's a deeply personal act that brings loved ones to their final place of rest - back to where their story began.
For many, the choice to work far from home - be it for financial, political, social or personal reasons – presents a unique set of challenges. One seldom discussed but vitally important for consideration is repatriation.
Understanding repatriation
What happens when someone passes away while working or holidaying far from home – locally or abroad? Would you or your family know what steps to take? Would you have the resources to bring them home?
In this context, repatriation refers to the transportation of a deceased loved one to their home country or place of origin. It is both a deeply emotional and logistical process - one that AVBOB approaches with care, dignity and professionalism.
'At AVBOB, our aim is to reunite loved ones with their families, no matter where in the world they may be. We provide a comprehensive repatriation service because we understand that closure, comfort and cultural respect matter deeply during a time of grief,' says Adriaan Bester, Executive: Funeral Products and Services at AVBOB.
With more than 350 branches and a fleet exceeding 1 000 vehicles - including state-of-the-art refrigerated units - AVBOB is equipped to handle repatriation both across South Africa and internationally. Our vehicles meet all local and international legislation and safety standards, and our extensive network of funeral professionals ensures seamless coordination and compassionate care throughout the process.
Whether a loved one has passed away abroad, in another province, or in a remote part of the country, AVBOB 's Repatriation Hub stands ready to assist. Our goal is simple: to bring your loved one home with dignity and care.
Why repatriation matters
Grieving is already a heavy burden. When a death occurs far from home, logistical complications, emotional stress, and unfamiliar environments intensify that burden.
Why repatriation matters
Grieving is already a heavy burden. When a death occurs far from home, logistical complications, emotional stress, and unfamiliar environments intensify that burden.
Repatriation offers families
Greater control over funeral arrangements in a familiar setting;
Relief from complex legal or cultural requirements in foreign territories;
The ability to honour cultural and religious customs, particularly the importance of laying a loved one to rest in their geographic or spiritual home;
Potential cost savings, particularly for extended families wishing to attend local funeral proceedings; and
Emotional comfort and closure, knowing their loved one is nearby and accessible for visits or memorials.
'The last thing a grieving family should have to worry about is paperwork, logistics or cross-border protocols,' adds Bester. 'That's why we take care of every step – so families can focus on healing and honouring their loved one.'
Who can use AVBOB's Repatriation Service?
AVBOB's Repatriation Service is available to:
AVBOB policyholders
Non-policyholders
Independent funeral undertakers
Corporates
Government institutions
For AVBOB policyholders, domestic repatriation is included in their FREE funeral benefits* - a testament to our commitment to supporting South African families in times of need.
Find peace of mind
Let AVBOB walk the journey with you so that when the time comes, you can grieve without worry and say goodbye in the place that feels most like home.
To make use of AVBOB 's Repatriation Service, contact our team on 074 899 5413 or email [email protected].
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Brighter future for learners as AVBOB literacy campaign expands reach
AMONG this year's beneficiaries of the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign, in collaboration with Oxford University Press South Africa (OUPSA), are Alipore Primary School, ML Sultan St Mary's Primary School and Wentworth Primary School. The campaign is a nationwide trolley library initiative that improves access to books in communities across the country, with a focus on schools and NPOs. Also read: Find your best words: AVBOB poetry competition entries open in August The announcement was made at an event hosted at the Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg on May 29. The project addresses the ongoing challenges of low literacy and numeracy levels at foundation phase by providing young learners with culturally and linguistically relevant materials in all 11 official written languages. This year's campaign reflects substantial growth from the 180 library trolleys distributed in its inaugural year, 2022. Each of the 1 000 mobile libraries includes 500 OUPSA books selected to support literacy and numeracy skills in alignment with the CAPS curriculum. The total number of books distributed this year will exceed 500 000, up from 250 000 in 2024. Speaking on a panel alongside Carl van der Riet (CEO of AVBOB Group), Karen Simpson (MD of OUPSA), Gugu Ndebele (executive director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls), the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube remarked: 'This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships. The campaign addresses a pressing national priority, the development of foundational literacy and numeracy, while supporting policy frameworks aimed at integrating diversity into school curricula. It does so in a way that honours South Africa's linguistic and cultural richness, ensuring that no child is left behind.' Also read: Literacy workshop helps start discussions on promoting reading Simpson added that the partnership reflects the organisation's core belief that literacy is a foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity. 'Access to books in a learner's mother tongue has a profound impact on their ability to grasp foundational concepts, stay engaged in the classroom, and remain in the education system. We are steadfast on publishing our books in all of South Africa's official written languages, and the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign enables us to place these resources directly in the hands of the learners who need them most.' The trolleys are designed to be mobile, durable, and easy to access in shared or under-resourced learning environments. Along with books that promote reading for enjoyment, they include materials designed to develop numeracy, making the campaign one of the few national projects focused on both reading and mathematics at the foundational phase. The campaign also continues to grow in reach and engagement. This year's campaign received 8 661 nominations from across all nine provinces, submitted by educators, caregivers, community leaders and members of the public. Van der Riet said that although the campaign has grown substantially, its original purpose is to provide access to quality education materials, dignity and hope for a better future. 'Literacy and numeracy are academic skills and critical tools for participation, for opportunity, and dignity.' 'They are the building blocks of future learning and the means by which children are empowered to shape their own lives. The AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign embodies our belief that meaningful social investment must be both practical and purpose driven.' Since 2022, the campaign has evolved from a pilot initiative into one of the most extensive mobile library programmes in the country. Educational experts have long advocated for mother tongue instruction at the early stages of schooling. Research has consistently shown that when children learn to read in their home language, they are more likely to stay in school, perform better academically, and transition successfully to additional languages later in life. For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Avbob's R57m trolley library donation puts SA youth on the Road to Literacy
Avbob, in partnership with Oxford University Press Southern Africa (OUPSA), has announced the 1,000 beneficiaries of the 2025 edition of its annual Road to Literacy campaign. This is the fourth year the two companies have joined forces to help empower young minds by donating fully stocked trolley libraries to deserving primary schools and educational nonprofit organisations (NPOs) nominated by the public. The project addresses the ongoing challenges of low literacy and numeracy levels at foundation phase by providing young learners with culturally and linguistically relevant materials in all 11 official written languages. The 2025 beneficiaries, which include schools and NPOs across SA, were announced at an event at Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg on May 29 — click here to see the full list. The Avbob Road to Literacy campaign addresses a pressing national priority, the development of foundational literacy and numeracy ... in a way that honours SA's linguistic and cultural richness, ensuring that no child is left behind Siviwe Gwarube, minister of basic education This year's Avbob Road to Literacy campaign reflects substantial growth from the 180 library trolleys distributed in its inaugural year, 2022. Each of the 1,000 mobile libraries includes 500 OUPSA books selected to support literacy and numeracy skills in alignment with the CAPS curriculum. The total number of books distributed this year will exceed 500,000, up from 250,000 in 2024. Speaking on a panel alongside Carl van der Riet, CEO of Avbob Group, Karen Simpson, MD of OUPSA, and Gugu Ndebele, executive director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube said: 'This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships. The campaign addresses a pressing national priority, the development of foundational literacy and numeracy, while supporting policy frameworks aimed at integrating diversity into school curricula. It does so in a way that honours SA's linguistic and cultural richness, ensuring that no child is left behind.' Simpson added that OUPSA's partnership with Avbob reflected its core belief that literacy was a foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity. 'Access to books in a learner's mother tongue has a profound impact on their ability to grasp foundational concepts, stay engaged in the classroom, and remain in the education system. We are steadfast on publishing our books in all of SA's official written languages, and the Avbob Road to Literacy campaign enables us to place these resources directly in the hands of the learners who need them most.' 2025 Avbob Road to Literacy campaign in numbers • 8,661 — the number of beneficiary nominations received from the public. • 1,000 — mobile trolley libraries donated to schools and NGOs across SA. • 500 — OUPSA books each trolley library is stocked with. • 500,000 — total number of OUPSA books donated. • R57,000 — the value of each mobile trolley library. R57m — the total value of the mobile trolley libraries donated. Each trolley library is valued at R57,000, bringing the total investment for the 2025 campaign to R57m. The trolleys are designed to be mobile, durable, and easy to access in shared or under-resourced learning environments. Along with books that promote reading for enjoyment, they include materials designed to develop numeracy, making the campaign one of the few national projects focused on both reading and mathematics at the foundational phase. The campaign also continues to grow in reach and engagement. This year's campaign received 8,661 nominations from across all nine provinces, submitted by educators, caregivers, community leaders and members of the public. Van der Riet said that though the campaign had grown substantially, its original purpose was to provide access to quality education materials, dignity and hope for a better future. 'Literacy and numeracy are academic skills and critical tools for participation, for opportunity, and dignity. They are the building blocks of future learning and the means by which children are empowered to shape their own lives. The Avbob Road to Literacy campaign embodies our belief that meaningful social investment must be both practical and purpose-driven.' He said Avbob, as a mutual society, existed for the benefit of its members and the wider community. 'At Avbob, giving back to communities is more than a commitment — it's a core part of who we are. We remain deeply guided by our founders' promise of always putting people first, a principle that continues to be the golden thread in everything we do. Through the Avbob Road to Literacy campaign, we aim to support underserved communities in a way that uplifts and empowers them, while respecting their dignity and fostering lasting impact.' Through the Avbob Road to Literacy campaign, we aim to support underserved communities in a way that uplifts and empowers them, while respecting their dignity and fostering lasting impact Carl van der Riet, CEO of Avbob Group Adding to this sentiment, Ndebele said, 'We believe that education is the most powerful tool for changing a learner's future. Literacy unlocks confidence, agency and opportunity. We are inspired by this initiative's focus, and we hope it will ignite a lifelong love of reading in every child who encounters one of these trolley libraries.' Since 2022, the campaign has evolved from a pilot initiative into one of the most extensive mobile library programmes in the country. Educational experts have long advocated for mother tongue instruction at the early stages of schooling. Research has consistently shown that when children learn to read in their home language, they are more likely to stay in school, perform better academically, and transition successfully to additional languages later in life. Despite this, access to books in African languages remains limited, especially in underfunded schools. The Avbob Road to Literacy campaign helps address this gap, ensuring that the joy of reading, and the practical foundation of numeracy, are not restricted by geography or circumstance.
Daily Maverick
15-05-2025
- Daily Maverick
Reversing austerity: How Budget 3.0 can restore educational integrity and infrastructure in South Africa.
More than 23,000 posts in education departments have been cut, and now our classrooms are paying the price for austerity. Budget 3.0 will be tabled on 21 May 2025 — a historic moment for our nation's democracy, which had until now failed to meaningfully challenge many of the National Treasury's regressive decisions. While we welcome the ruling that declared the proposed fiscal framework that contained a regressive VAT increase as unlawful, it is only the beginning. We must remain steadfast in our efforts to hold the Treasury accountable to all its constitutional obligations. The new Budget cannot continue on an austere path, which systematically dismantles the public infrastructure and services upon which the most vulnerable depend. Nowhere is the damage of austerity more visible — or more devastating — than in our social services, particularly education, where the effects are especially acute. The constitutional right to basic education — an immediately realisable right — has been eroded by years of budget cuts, staffing reductions, and chronic underfunding. Politicians often repeat the refrain that the government must 'trim the fat', but what has been slashed over the past decade is not excess — it is the very muscle of our public education system. These cuts have gutted the core of teaching and learning: fewer teachers, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, and limited support services. The result is a generation of learners denied not just quality education, but the tools to fully realise their potential in a democratic society. Austerity is driving teachers out of the classroom Perhaps the most devastating impact has been on our teaching workforce. As we mark Workers' Month, we are confronted with the catastrophic reality of plummeting headcounts in the public education sector. Education departments' most recent annual reports show that 477,774 posts were occupied in the 2023/24 financial year. By the end of January 2025, this had decreased to 454,640. This means that in one financial year, more than 23,000 — almost 5% — of warm bodies in the public education workforce were decimated. When including funded but vacant positions, the number rises to more than 46,000 — nearly 8.5% of the workforce stripped away. Those who remain do so under increasingly arduous conditions: overcrowded classrooms, chronic shortages of materials, and mounting administrative burdens. Many teachers now work far beyond their contracted hours, effectively subsidising the education system with their unpaid labour. Furthermore, the Treasury's R11-billion retirement incentive for public sector workers will probably accelerate this exodus by encouraging a wave of early retirements without a parallel plan to fill the gaps. This is not a profession in decline by choice — teachers want to teach. Austerity has created a crisis where experienced educators are leaving the profession in droves, while fewer young people see teaching as a viable career path. Unfunded mandates, unrealised rights It is deeply contradictory for the government to be cutting education posts while at the same time increasing its obligations to learners. Since the Bela Bill was signed into law in 2024, Grade R has become a legal obligation. Yet no corresponding funding has been allocated to support its implementation — there is no budget to increase teacher headcounts or equip schools with the infrastructure and resources needed to accommodate this expanded intake. Parliament should not pass budgets with unfunded mandates — they undermine the rule of law and put constitutional rights at risk. The underfunding of Grade R is a clear and urgent example. Budget 3.0 must end the infrastructure crisis in schools The physical infrastructure of our schools tells an equally troubling story. It has been 12 years and counting for the government to eradicate pit latrines from all schools, which were officially declared illegal under the Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure. Despite legal guarantees, many students still attend schools without adequate sanitation, a reliable water supply, or safe buildings. In 2023, the Department of Basic Education estimated that it would need approximately R42-billion each year to eliminate all backlogs and have well-functioning school infrastructure in all public schools by 2030. Even if current spending plans are protected against the VAT shortfall, the government will spend an annual average of R17.6-billion on school infrastructure over the next three years, less than half the required amount. Even more troubling is that the government amended the Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure to remove critical deadlines for addressing these backlogs. This shift actively retrogresses against established frameworks to safeguard the right to education as an immediately realisable one. Deadlines are essential for driving implementation, enabling proper planning, and securing ring-fenced funding. By scrapping them, the government has weakened accountability and signalled a retreat from its constitutional duties. While the rest of the world invests in equipping learners for a digital and knowledge-based future, South Africa's education system is still denied the minimum resources it requires to equip youth to actively participate and contribute to our future. We stopped the VAT hike — now we must reverse the cuts The victory against VAT increases has demonstrated that organised resistance to austerity can succeed. However, we must build on this momentum to demand not just the prevention of further cuts, but the restoration of what has been lost and investment in what should be. Our education system needs immediate, substantial increases in funding for teacher salaries and recruitment, dignified and safe school infrastructure, learning materials, and support services. Even Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has conceded to what we have long argued: austerity has failed to achieve its goal of reducing national debt. Instead, it has shifted the burden on to poor and working-class communities through degraded public services while economic growth stagnates. If spending cuts have failed to deliver the promised stability or growth, then we must ask: why are we still sacrificing our teachers and our children's future at the altar of austerity? DM Mahfouz Raffee is a researcher at Equal Education. Matshidiso Lencoasa is a budget analyst at SECTION27. Both organisations form part of the Budget Justice Coalition.
