Funeral chains
Doves Funerals: services, cover and what to know
By Lindiwe Khumalo · 5 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
- Type
- Funeral homes and funeral plans
- Operates in
- Nationwide, established branch network
- Services
- Funeral services, coffins, cremations, repatriation
- Known for
- Long-running national funeral home brand
Doves is one of South Africa's most established funeral service brands, with a nationwide network of funeral homes that conduct funerals - collection and care of the deceased, coffins, services, cremations and repatriation - alongside funeral plans, with a waiting period of about 6 months for natural death on any cover. They are known mainly for conducting funerals - the parlour side - alongside funeral plans.
This page explains what Doves offers in general terms, how their cover fits with the service, and what to check before you commit. For exact prices and your nearest branch, confirm directly with Doves, as terms change and vary by area.
Who Doves is
Doves is a long-standing funeral services company in South Africa with funeral homes across the country. Their core business is conducting the funeral - collection and care of the deceased, coffins, the service itself, cremations and repatriation - and they also offer funeral plans to spread the cost.
Services they provide
Typical Doves services include mortuary care, a coffin range from basic to premium, hearse and family transport, grave-side or church services, cremation arrangements and repatriation of the deceased between towns or provinces. As a national brand, they can often help where the death and the burial are in different places - confirm this for your case.
How their cover works
Where Doves offers a funeral plan, it generally works like other plans: a monthly premium, a waiting period for natural death (commonly around six months), and a benefit that goes towards the funeral. Confirm whether your plan pays cash, provides the service, or both, and get the waiting period and exclusions in writing.
What to check before you sign
- Whether any cover is underwritten by a licensed insurer.
- The full waiting period and exclusions.
- What the funeral service includes versus extras you would pay for.
- Whether they can collect and bury across different towns.
- How premiums change with age. Compare Doves with AVBOB, Icebolethu and Two Mountains before deciding.
How to contact Doves
Use the official Doves website or visit a funeral home to get current prices and the branch nearest you. We do not publish phone numbers here because they change and we cannot verify them.
Frequently asked questions
What does Doves do?
Doves is a national funeral services company that conducts funerals - collection and care of the deceased, coffins, services, cremations and repatriation - and also offers funeral plans.
Does Doves offer funeral cover?
Doves offers funeral plans alongside its services. Confirm whether your plan pays cash, provides the funeral service, or both, and check the waiting period.
Does Doves do cremations?
Doves arranges cremations as well as burials. Confirm availability and pricing at the branch nearest you.
Can Doves help if the death and burial are in different towns?
As a national brand Doves can often arrange repatriation between towns or provinces. Confirm this for your specific case.
How do I contact Doves?
Use the official Doves website or visit a funeral home. We do not publish phone numbers because they change and we cannot verify them.
How long does a Doves claim or funeral take to arrange?
For a death with the paperwork ready, a parlour like Doves can usually start arrangements the same day. If a funeral plan is involved, a valid cash claim is typically paid within a day or two, while repatriation between towns adds time - confirm the timeline with your branch.
