Hollard Funeral Cover South Africa 2025
Complete guide for South African residents
Last updated: January 2025
Quick Facts
- Cover up to R75,000 per person
- Claims paid within 48 hours
- Cover your first 5 children free
- FSP Number: 17697 (fully licensed)
- December premium holiday after first year
What’s In This Guide
1. What Is Hollard Funeral Cover?
Hollard is one of South Africa’s biggest insurance companies. They started in 1980. They offer funeral cover to help your family when you pass away.
Funeral cover is insurance that pays money when someone dies. This money helps pay for the funeral. Funerals in South Africa can cost from R3,000 to R50,000. Some cost even more.
With Hollard, you can get cover up to R75,000 per person. This is one of the highest amounts in South Africa. The money goes to your chosen person when you die.
đĄ Simple Explanation: You pay a small amount every month. When you die, Hollard pays a big amount to your family. This helps them pay for your funeral.
â 2. Benefits You Get With Hollard Funeral Cover
Hollard gives you many benefits with their funeral cover. Here is what you get:
Standard Benefits (Included Free)
| Benefit | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Main Cover | Up to R75,000 paid to your family |
| Children Cover | First 5 children covered FREE (up to R20,000 each) |
| Airtime Benefit | R250 airtime voucher when someone dies (no waiting period) |
| Repatriation | Transport body to funeral home (over 100km, within SA) |
| Legal Help | 30-minute free phone call with a lawyer |
| Stillborn Cover | R5,000 if you have a stillborn baby |
Extra Benefits (You Pay More)
| Extra Benefit | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Spouse Cover | Cover your husband or wife (up to R75,000) |
| Parents Cover | Cover your parents or in-laws (up to R20,000 each) |
| Memorial Benefit | Up to R10,000 for tombstone unveiling |
| Monthly Provider | Up to R2,500 per month for groceries (for 12 months) |
| Vehicle Access | Use a car for 6 days to plan the funeral |
| Money-Back | Get 20% of your premiums back every 5 years |
| Paid-Up Benefit | Stop paying at age 65, stay covered for life |
đ December Premium Holiday: After your first year with Hollard, you don’t pay in December. This is a free month every year!
3. Who Can Apply For Hollard Funeral Cover?
You can apply for Hollard funeral cover if you meet these requirements:
For The Main Person (You)
- You must be between 18 and 75 years old
- You must be a South African citizen OR permanent resident
- You must have a valid SA ID number
- You must have a South African bank account
For Your Spouse (Husband/Wife)
- Can be covered for the same amount as you
- Married, civil union, or life partner accepted
- Same-sex partners are accepted
For Your Children
- First 5 children are covered FREE
- Cover ends when they turn 21 (or 24 if still studying)
- Children under 14 have legal limits on pay-out amounts
- Disabled children can stay covered longer
For Your Parents
- Parents and in-laws can be covered
- They must be under 75 years old when you add them
- Maximum 4 parents total
- Cover up to R20,000 each
đ What You Need To Apply:
- Your SA ID number
- Your bank account details
- Your phone number
- Your home address
đ° 4. How Much Does Hollard Funeral Cover Cost?
Hollard says their cover starts from about R2 per day. But the real cost depends on many things:
- Your age (older = more expensive)
- How much cover you want (higher = more expensive)
- How many people you want to cover
- Which extra benefits you add
Example Monthly Costs (Estimates)
| Cover Amount | Estimated Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| R10,000 cover | From R60 – R100 per month |
| R25,000 cover | From R100 – R180 per month |
| R50,000 cover | From R180 – R350 per month |
| R75,000 cover | From R250 – R500 per month |
â ī¸ Important: These are estimates only. Your actual price may be different. Always get a proper quote from Hollard. Premiums go up by about 7% every year to keep up with funeral costs.
đĄ How To Get Your Exact Price:
- Call Hollard at 0860 333 118
- Visit their website: www.hollard.co.za
- Ask a broker to help you
5. How To Apply For Hollard Funeral Cover
There are 4 ways to apply for Hollard funeral cover:
Option 1: Apply Online
- Go to www.hollard.co.za
- Click on “Funeral Cover”
- Choose how much cover you want
- Fill in your personal details
- Enter your banking details
- Submit and pay your first premium
Option 2: Call Hollard
- Call 0860 333 118
- A Hollard person will help you on the phone
- They will call you back to complete the application
Option 3: Use TymeBank
- Go to a TymeBank kiosk at Pick n Pay or Boxer
- Apply for Hollard Family Protect funeral cover
- No paperwork needed
Option 4: Use a Broker
- Find a broker on Hollard’s website
- Meet them in person for help
- Good if you have questions
â
Good News: No medical tests are needed! You don’t need to see a doctor. Cover starts when you pay your first premium.
â° 6. Waiting Periods (Very Important!)
A waiting period is time you must wait before you can claim. If someone dies during the waiting period, Hollard will NOT pay. You need to understand this before you buy.
| Cause of Death | Waiting Period |
|---|---|
| Accident | No waiting period (covered immediately) |
| Natural causes (illness, old age) | 6 months (must pay 6 premiums) |
| Suicide | 12 months (must pay 12 premiums) |
| Pre-existing illness | 24 months |
| Parents and extended family | 12 months |
đĄ What Is A Pre-Existing Illness?
This is any sickness you had BEFORE you bought the policy. For example: if you had cancer before joining, and you die from cancer within 24 months, Hollard won’t pay.
7. How To Claim From Hollard Funeral Cover
When someone covered by the policy dies, you need to claim. Hollard promises to pay within 48 hours if everything is correct.
Step-by-Step Claim Process
- Report the death quickly – Call Hollard as soon as possible
- Get a claim form – Hollard will send you a form to fill in
- Collect documents – Get all the papers they need (see list below)
- Submit your claim – Send everything to Hollard
- Wait for payment – If approved, money comes within 48 hours
Documents You Need
- Completed claim form (signed)
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Certified copy of the dead person’s ID
- Certified copy of your ID (the person claiming)
- Proof of banking details (for the pay-out)
- Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate)
- Police report (if unnatural death)
- BI1663 form (for unnatural deaths)
Ways To Submit Your Claim
| Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0860 000 789 or 011 547 7000 |
| lifeclaims@hollard.co.za or directfuneral@hollard.co.za | |
| Available 24/7 through their chatbot | |
| Online Portal | Log in to your Hollard client portal |
â ī¸ Important: You must submit your claim within 12 months of the death. If you wait longer, Hollard may not pay.
đ¨ 8. Scam Warnings – Protect Yourself!
Funeral cover scams are a big problem in South Africa. Criminals steal money from people who think they have cover. When the family tries to claim, they get nothing.
Common Funeral Cover Scams
- Food voucher trick: Criminals ask you to fill in a form for a “free food voucher” but it’s actually a funeral policy application
- Competition scam: They say you won a prize but you’re signing up for funeral cover
- Fake brokers: People pretend to work for real insurance companies
- Cash collection: Fraudsters collect cash premiums every month but there is no real policy
- PERSAL fraud: Criminals put debit orders on government workers’ salaries without permission
- Too-good-to-be-true offers: R30/month for R50,000 cover is NOT possible – it’s a scam!
How To Check If Hollard Cover Is Real
- Check the FSP number: Hollard’s number is 17697
- Verify on FSCA website: Go to www.fsca.co.za and search for the company
- Get policy documents: Real companies give you written documents
- Check your bank statements: Look for debit orders you didn’t approve
- Call Hollard directly: Use their official number 0860 333 118
đ Red Flags – Don’t Sign If:
- Someone approaches you at a mall or taxi rank
- They want your ID number for a “free quote”
- They ask for cash payments
- The premium is unbelievably cheap
- They pressure you to sign NOW
- You don’t get any documents
Where To Report Scams
| Organisation | Contact |
|---|---|
| FAIS Ombud | www.faisombud.co.za |
| FSCA | 0800 110 443 or www.fsca.co.za |
| SAPS | Your local police station |
| SAFPS | South African Fraud Prevention Services |
9. How Does Hollard Compare To Other Companies?
There are many funeral cover companies in South Africa. Here’s how Hollard compares to others:
| Feature | Hollard | AVBOB | Old Mutual | 1Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Cover | R75,000 | R50,000 | R100,000 | R50,000 |
| Free Children | 5 kids free | Varies | Varies | 6 kids free |
| Money Back | 20% every 5 years | 20% every 5 years | Varies | No |
| Claim Time | 48 hours | 24-48 hours | 48-72 hours | Under 5 mins |
| Paid-Up at 65 | Yes (optional) | No | Varies | No |
| December Free | Yes | No | Varies | No |
| Online Apply | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
đĄ Tip: Don’t just look at price. Check what benefits you get. A cheaper policy might not give you everything you need. Always compare at least 3 companies before you decide.
10. Pros and Cons of Hollard Funeral Cover
â What’s Good (Pros)
- High cover amount (up to R75,000)
- 5 children covered free
- Fast claims (48 hours)
- December premium holiday
- 20% money back every 5 years
- Can stop paying at age 65
- Easy online application
- No medical tests needed
- WhatsApp claims available
- Trusted company (since 1980)
â What’s Not Good (Cons)
- Waiting periods apply
- 24-month wait for pre-existing illness
- Premiums go up 7% every year
- Age limit of 75 to join
- Extra benefits cost more money
- Parent cover limit is R20,000
- Must have SA bank account
- No repeat customer discounts
đ 11. Hollard Contact Details
For Funeral Cover Enquiries
| General Enquiries | 0860 333 118 |
| Policy Administration | 0800 935 465 |
| Claims Line | 0860 000 789 or 011 547 7000 |
| Email (Policy) | mypolicy@hollard.co.za |
| Email (Claims) | lifeclaims@hollard.co.za |
| Website | www.hollard.co.za |
For Complaints
| Hollard Complaints | hgrcomplaints@hollard.co.za or 011 351 5000 |
| Compliance Officer | 0860 666 675 or compliance@hollard.co.za |
If Hollard Doesn’t Help – Contact These
| FAIS Ombud | 012 470 9080 or info@faisombud.co.za |
| FSCA (Regulator) | 0800 110 443 or www.fsca.co.za |
| Ombudsman for Long-term Insurance | 021 657 5000 |
đ Head Office Address:
Hollard Villa Arcadia
22 Oxford Road, Florence House
Parktown, 2193
Gauteng, South Africa
Hollard Villa Arcadia
22 Oxford Road, Florence House
Parktown, 2193
Gauteng, South Africa
⨠12. Our Final Recommendations
Hollard Is Good For You If:
- You want high cover (up to R75,000)
- You have children to cover for free
- You like managing things online or on your phone
- You want a December payment break
- You like getting money back every 5 years
- You want to stop paying at 65 but stay covered
Consider Other Options If:
- You need cover over R75,000
- You have serious health problems now
- You prefer dealing with a funeral parlour directly (try AVBOB)
- You want the fastest possible claims (try 1Life)
Before You Sign – Do This:
- Get quotes from at least 3 companies
- Compare the benefits, not just the price
- Read the waiting period rules carefully
- Check the company’s FSP number on FSCA website
- Ask what happens to your premium every year
- Make sure you can afford the payments
- Tell your family who to contact if you die
âšī¸ What If You Change Your Mind?
You have 31 days after getting your policy documents to cancel. If you cancel within 31 days and no claim was made, Hollard will refund your premiums (minus admin fees).
After 31 days, you can still cancel but you give 31 days notice. No refund will be given after this cooling-off period.
âī¸ Your Rights As A Customer
- Right to clear information: Hollard must explain everything in simple words
- Right to documents: You must get a copy of your policy
- Right to complain: You can complain to the FAIS Ombud for free
- Right to cancel: You can stop your policy at any time
- Right to claim: If you followed the rules, they must pay
- Right to privacy: Your personal information must be protected (POPI Act)
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. It was last updated in January 2025. Premiums, benefits, and rules may change. Always get a proper quote from Hollard and read your policy document before signing. This guide is not financial advice.
Hollard Life Assurance Company Ltd | Reg No: 1993/001405/06 | FSP: 17697
For complaints about financial services, contact the FSCA at 0800 110 443 or the FAIS Ombud at 012 470 9080
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Helping South Africans make smart money decisions