Saving burial space through cremation

Last week saw Dups cremate about 36 unclaimed bodies, and this was the first cremation authorized by government. This comes hot on the heels of the Municipality of Manzini clanging alarm bells regarding burial space fast running out at Ngwane Park Cemetery. According to Observer on Saturday, the Council implored Swazis with properties in the city to consider burying their loved ones at their parental homes around the country so that the little space available may be reserved for those who are not Swazis by birth.

On that note, we would like to shine the spotlight on another alternative to saving burial space – cremation. Apart from saving space, cremation offers an affordable alternative to traditional body burial. As much as the concept of cremation is relatively new in Swaziland, more Swazis are now using the crematorium facility at Dups Funeral home since the incinerator started operating almost eight years ago.

It has all along been regarded as un-Swazi to have the body of the deceased cremated, but people have now come to terms with the fact that cremation is no different than the ordinary burial we are used to. It can still be done in a way that still retains the dignity of the departed. In other words, one can still have their remains laid to rest, in a different but dignified way through cremation. About 3% of services conducted by Dups Funeral Home per month are now crematorium services and about 30% of the total number is Swazis, which is a phenomenal figure when taking into account that Swaziland is a traditional country. It shows a big mind-shift in Swazis – a shift in the right direction as it is preserves land and ensures that remains are taken care of at minimal cost, especially when cost of living is soaring. Other people, like very fervent conservationists, sometimes known as “tree-huggers”, also feel that choosing cremation over body burial is friendlier to the environment because no land is disturbed on their account. Clearly, price is not the only advantage in choosing cremation. 

It still remains a client choice to either be cremated or be buried and this is done in accordance with their beliefs,
 customs and traditions as it is one of our values to respect culture, customs & traditions.  Cremation is not a substitute for a funeral service as the final disposition of the remains is still required, and as such whether it is a cremation or burial service, the family still has time to mourn the loss of their loved one through a memorial or prayer service.

Apart from Swazis considering cremation, it is also something that those of foreign origin can consider. There are many non-Swazis who are buried in the kingdom because of the astronomical cost of repatriating bodies of deceased individuals. However, most people get very attached to graves of their loved ones and would be utterly heartbroken to leave Swaziland knowing that they’re leaving one of their own behind, “all alone”. The cremains (i.e. ashes) are portable, and this allows families to take remains with them when they move or get a chance to visit their homelands. There are, however people who are totally against being buried in foreign lands and totally against cremation. Against this background, we would like to remind all foreign nationals of the Homelink Cover Plan. Under this plan, no-one would be forced into the corner of burying loved ones here under financial pressure, when they would rather bury them in their country of origin. This affordable product covers repatriation of foreign nationals who are resident in Swaziland as well as Swazis who are resident in other countries in the event of death. The Homelink Cover Plan assists in providing a cash payout upon the death of a covered individual, including the policy holder and his/her family member dependents.

Call us on 2505 2028 to find out more about cremation and the Homelink Cover Plan. You can also pay us a visit at our offices in Manzini, Matata, Matsapha, Simunye, Nhlangano, Mbabane, Piggs Peak and Siteki. Alternatively, you can send queries to info@dupsgroup.com, www.facebook.com/dups or on Twitter @dupsinsurance.

           

Be your brother's keeper to avert suicides

It is quite appalling that the suicide scourge is unrelenting, regardless of efforts being made by relevant organisations to raise awareness around the subject. Every week there are new reports of people taking their own lives for one reason or the other.  

Suicides are an unnecessary and avoidable loss of life. Apart from robbing people of a loved one, they also sometimes rob families of their source of income. It can result in huge losses as a result of insurance policies not paying out following a death of a covered individual at his/her own hand. Insurance companies usually do not give anything to beneficiaries of such an individual. So after losing a loved one, you have another big problem to face when your claim is denied.

Dups policies have a 12-month waiting period. This means products will not cover death that is due to natural causes if it occurs within the first 12 months from inception. Death that is due to an accident is covered immediately after payment of the first premium. A suicide, however, though a loss as devastating and unexpected as an accident is not treated the same as an accident. The 12-month waiting period would apply.

It is everyone’s responsibility to be their brother’s keeper so that there is no unnecessary loss of lives through suicides. Sometimes we feel professionals must be the ones doing their work to ensure depressed people get proper counselling or treatment, but the bigger obligation lies with family and friends who spend more time with suicidal people and get to see the red flags from behavioural patterns and things they say. In most cases, following a suicide, there are always people who later come forward and say, “He did mention it a few times that he was going to kill himself. We thought he was joking.” An Ezulwini man killed himself this past week after being jilted by a girlfriend after mentioning suicide, yet people still thought he was joking. Professionals say when people threaten to commit suicide, those close to them should never dismiss it as a bad joke or attention-seeking behaviour. It is usually a genuine cry for help.

For most people, suicide comes in despair caused by relationship problems, or health problems, especially an HIV diagnosis. Recently, another man reportedly committed suicide after getting diagnosed with HIV. According to reports, the man lamented that he had not received sufficient counselling prior to the test. He told his wife that he would commit suicide, but she did not take is very seriously. His grievance was corroborated by statements made by a local psychotherapist in an earlier conversation. She said there were many cases of people who ended up contemplating suicide following a diagnosis they had not properly braced themselves for.

Doctors are increasingly reluctant to treat patients whose status they don’t know. They’ll feel that they are treating the symptoms not the actual problem. It is vital for people to know their HIV status so that they can get treatment and relevant advice in order to prolong their lives. Without adequate counselling, however, lives are only cut short after people take their own lives. We therefore call on medical personnel to take all the correct measures when delivering news that can potentially cause a meltdown.

The culture of treating suicide as a taboo subject has to be done away with. People need to speak out more openly about it and make it an important point of discussion in our daily lives. One life lost to suicide is one life too many. Life is sanctified, thousands are in hospitals battling to save theirs and we can’t have people just killing themselves because of problems that can be solved.

Call us on 2505 2028 to find out more about Dups products and services. You can also pay us a visit at our offices in Manzini, Matata, Matsapha, Simunye, Nhlangano, Mbabane, Piggs Peak and Siteki. Alternatively, you can send queries to info@dupsgroup.com, www.facebook.com/dups or on Twitter @dupsinsurance.

                                                                                                                                            

Don't hold back. Feedback!

We had a pleasant and busy few days at the Swaziland International Trade Fair which ended this past week, and would like to thank our many customers that came to the Dups stands. Some were full of praises for the work that we do, some were disgruntled about what they feel we haven’t done, while others had some misconceptions about Dups products and services. We were happy to see all of them as the feedback, negative or positive, helps us to improve the quality of our service to customers. We will be addressing the feedback in upcoming instalments, so that those that may have similar concerns but did not make it to the Trade Fair can have them addressed too.

The Dups Wellness Day was held this past week and we had a great day of fun in the sun. The benefits of a good workout can never be overemphasized. Although many, especially the couch potatoes, limped their way back to the office the next day because of muscular aches, we do hope that all our staff members and customers will continue to have or adopt an active lifestyle. It was not just fun and games at the Wellness Day as health professionals also graced the occasion to do health check-ups and give advice to those who needed it.

Having regular health checks is of paramount importance. There are diseases that are known as silent killers because sometimes they disguise themselves and just creep up on you without a warning, without you even suspecting things are going haywire in your system. In the past two weeks, there were three deaths reported in the media of people who just collapsed and died out of the blue. Although the causes of death have not been disclosed, those close to the last person to collapse said she had been a hypertension patient.

According to health experts, untreated hypertension increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, and can also damage the kidneys and increase the risk of blindness and dementia. High blood pressure interacts with other major risk factors such as diabetes and high levels of cholesterol to amplify the risk of heart attack and stroke. Diabetes and high cholesterol are also classified among the top 10 silent killers because sometime they do not always present with noticeable symptoms.  In other words, by the time one might get diagnosed, the damage would have already been done over a period of years. To nip this in the bud, we need to regularly get checked out. There are clinics, hospitals and pharmacies around Swaziland that do these checks at reasonable cost. More importantly, since these are lifestyle diseases, we need to improve how we lead our lives by eating healthily and getting more active. It doesn’t have to cost money to afford a workout. One can jog on the roads free of charge, or do some exercises at home, for at least 30 minutes every day to keep lifestyle diseases at bay. 

A number of people inaccurately believe only overweight people need to exercise and watch what they eat. However, slim people are not immune to lifestyle diseases and also diagnosed with high cholesterol and hypertension. Having high cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. So even if you feel your weight is ideal, you still need to eat well and be active.

The facts on lifestyle diseases show that if they go untreated, things can only get worse. In the same way, if there are issues you need to be addressed at Dups, don’t let them fester in your heart. Our doors and ears are always open. You don’t have to wait for the next trade fair to highlight your concerns. Call us on 2505 2028 or pay us a visit at our offices in Manzini, Matata, Matsapha, Simunye, Nhlangano, Mbabane, Piggs Peak and Siteki. You can also send all your queries to info@dupsgroup.com, www.facebook.com/dups or on Twitter @dupsinsurance, and we will gladly deal with the concerning issues.  

Dups at your doorstep!

If there is one thing that will never waver, it is our commitment to provide the best service to our customers in all our fields of expertise. We do this by ensuring that we have the best team to execute duties and by making an effort to have an office in all major towns. As we continue in our drive to be accessible to all our present and potential customers throughout the country, we are aware that there might be areas where we might not be visible enough yet our vital services are needed. To counter this, we came up with the idea of a mobile office.

If you have seen a big caravan-type vehicle with our details plastered on it, you’ve probably seen our mobile office. The Dups mobile office goes to towns and communities to provide access to the full range of our services. Our objective is to be more accessible to our clients by providing services at their location. This mobile office provides all the services offered from the Dups Direct Insurance offices. These include new policy sign-ups, queries, policy updates, upgrades, disbursement of loyalty cards, all at your very own doorstep anywhere you happen to be!

Our mobile office also serves as an information centre. We distribute information on all Dups products from all our business units, which include Dups Herbal, Dups Properties, Dups Funeral Home and the insurance side. We will have brochures from Dups Funeral Home, whose other duties include providing exclusive tombstones and professionally mounting them anywhere in the country. Seeing how cremations are fast becoming a popular option of interment, our customers will also be able to get a glimpse of a wide array of ash urns to choose from should they consider cremation. Our carpentry workshop at Dups Properties produces exquisite furniture which can be made to your specifications. We will gladly give you brochures showing you some of the furniture that we have produced.

Our herbal stand at the recently ended trade fair was quite popular with visitors. This strengthened our resolve to, from time to time, bring along products from our herbal shop for sale in our mobile office. Dups Herbal Shop is a specialist provider of traditional herbs and other natural remedies. Our products have assisted thousands of people with solutions to wide ranging ailments, which include arthritis, piles, ulcers, pimples, eczema and more. So in the event that you see us parked in your area, do drop by and say hello, get a view of our office, and you never know, you might just get a solution to an ailment that has been bugging you for ages. We will also be happy just to chat and find out what expectations you might have of us.

The weekly schedule for our community visits is announced on Voice of the Church radio station on Fridays where we have a programme that runs from 2 to 2:30 in the afternoon.

Still in the spirit of providing services and uplifting communities, Dups Foundation has assisted in building a Market Stall for a group of women who earn a living by selling fruits and vegetables at Mpolonjeni in Siteki. Through this initiative we hope to assist disadvantaged women develop and improve their economic position. We will be launching the Mpolonjeni Market Stalls this coming Tuedsay, the 20^th September. It is our hope that the beneficiaries of this initiative will enjoy their new workplace and that their customers will derive joy in frequenting the new market stalls.

Contact us to book the mobile office to come to your area for easy access to Dups Direct Insurance services. Call 25052028 or send whatsapp message to 76026424. You can also email info@dupsgroup.com or send queries to www.facebook.com/dups or on Twitter @dupsinsurance. Alternatively, you can pay us a visit at our offices in Manzini, Matata, Matsapha, Simunye, Nhlangano, Mbabane, Piggs Peak and Siteki for our community visits schedule. 

Dups joins hands with Mpolonjeni Vendors

It has been predicted that this year we might be receiving heavy rains. For a country that is in the middle of a bad drought, this is great news. Many farmers lost cattle, chickens and crops because of the drought, so we are all eagerly waiting for the rains. However, rains do not always look like a blessing when you don’t have shelter, ask those that sleep on the street.

For vendors in different parts of the country, seasonal changes present many challenges if they do not have proper shelter.  Cold weather will keep fruits and vegetables fresher for a longer time, but will expose the vendors to health problems like coughs and colds. The sweltering summer heat is also a big headache in terms of the damage it can do to fruits and vegetables. They quickly go off, and this is a big loss for vendors. When it rains, there is a lot of discomfort for vendors, even if they try to have makeshift shelters.

It was with this in mind that Dups Foundation responded to the request by vendors at Mpolonjeni market to assist with building shelters. The new market stalls were officially launched this past Tuesday, and it felt good to have made our small mark within the Mpolonjeni community. The vendors said they were happy to have decent structures to go to as their workplaces, not just go and sit under a tree and spend the whole day exposed to the elements. The market stalls are reasonably-sized rooms where vendors can store their wares at night and stock up for the day without worrying about the logistics of lugging them home every day.

As Dups Foundation, it is our commitment to foster social advancement, and it felt good to be able to join hands with people who were already working hard by themselves. The vending business is a lot of work involving waking up very early in the morning and carrying heavy loads. We felt it was important for the industrious women of Mpolonjeni to have some degree of comfort as they go about their business. Women have an important job to nurture families, and these women in particular also play a role in nurturing the community by selling nourishment. We applaud them for their service to their families and community, and sincerely hope they will be able to enjoy their new stalls and that they will also enjoy brisk business.  .  

Dups is known mostly for giving people dignified burials, but we feel we shouldn’t start and end there. We also strive to do the little that we can to help and give comfort to the living. As an organisation, we hope we are setting a good example to everyone to look out for each other while we are all still alive. 

The Mpolonjeni market stalls were built with the assistance of Dups Properties. . Dups Properties is responsible for rental properties such as houses, flats and shops as well as construction. Also, if you ever need to hire construction, maintenance or other equipment such as concrete mixers, welding machines, and flood lights, among others, Dups Properties is the place to go.  We rent out catering paraphernalia like tents, chairs, tables, gas stoves, big steel pots, mobile flushable and pit toilets, and a lot more other things. Dups Properties also provides plumbing, tiling and carpentry services, not just for buildings belonging to Dups or Dups policy holders, but also to the general public. We offer up to 10% discount on some of our products and services if you have a Dups Loyalty card.

Should you need any of the services provided by Dups Properties or any of the Dups subsidiary companies, please call us on 2505 2028. You can also pay us a visit at our offices in Manzini, Matata, Matsapha, Simunye, Nhlangano, Mbabane, Piggs Peak and Siteki. Alternatively, you can send queries to info@dupsgroup.com, www.facebook.com/dups or on Twitter @dupsinsurance.

How will you be remembered?

Recently the kwaito world was thrown into an emotional tailspin following the passing of kwaito legend Mduduzi “Mandoza” Tshabalala. Even those that aren’t really kwaito fans felt a tug on their heartstrings because he needed no introduction. It is not likely that there are many people that would ask, “Who on earth was Mandoza?” At some point, a good number would have bopped to his hits Nkalakhatha, Tornado or Tsotsi Yase Zola or another without necessarily being big fans of his. No doubt, Mandoza will be immortalized by his music. Decades, maybe even centuries from now, people will still be able to listen to his music and watch his videos.

People will also get a feel of the kind of person he was when they see his tombstone. It stands tall, like his reputation that ran far and wide, and there is his bronze statue, clad in his trademark sunglasses and a fashionable jacket, in the middle.  There are also music notes inscribed on the tombstone, and many, many years from now, anyone who passes by will know there lies a man who had something to do with music and was a fashion icon of sorts liked his sunglasses.

Gone are the days when people would just go for a lackluster rectangular headstone with plain messages, nothing eye-catching. People are going bold! Celebrating a life taken from their midst and telling a story through the tombstone. It’s almost like birthday cakes that are made these days. People want to get their loved ones the very best. Children get cakes molded into their favourite Disney World characters, adults get in their favourite English Premier League teams or one that defines who they are – a sewing machine if they are a tailor, agricultural implements if they are a farmer, or animals if they are animal lovers.

Ever ahead of the pack with modern trends, Dups would also like you to have your life celebrated in spectacular fashion when you eventually answer your call.  The Tribute Cover Plan pays out cash to the nominated beneficiary to enable them put up a memorial in the form of a tombstone or statue for the policy holder and his/her spouse upon their death. This benefit can be accessed from 3 months after the death of the policy holder or his/her spouse. 

What are you known for, what are you good at? Wouldn’t you want to be remembered for that in the form of your tombstone? As the breadwinner of your family, you probably spent your whole life ensuring your family was taken care of – sending children to school, providing food and all basic necessities, and much more.  When you’re gone, they will want what is best for you, a decent tombstone that celebrates the impact you had on their lives. They might, however, not have the money for that.  Dups gives you the chance to take care of that last celebration of your life at very minimal cost.

You might not be a celebrity, but you too can get a head-turning tombstone. Premiums for the Tribute Cover start from E45 for a payout of up to E50 000. Dups funeral home provides exclusive tombstones and professionally mounts them anywhere in the country. 

We have flexible premiums payment terms, which are annual, bi-annual, quarterly or monthly.

There is a 12 months waiting period for the Tribute Cover Plan. . This means the product will not cover death that is due to natural causes if it occurs within the first 12 months from inception. Death that is due to an accident is covered immediately after payment of the first premium

Call us on 2505 2028 to find out more about the Tribute Cover Plan. You can also pay us a visit at our offices in Manzini, Matata, Matsapha, Simunye, Nhlangano, Mbabane, Piggs Peak and Siteki. Alternatively, you can send queries to info@dupsgroup.com, www.facebook.com/dups or on Twitter @dupsinsurance. 

Let's all take care of our mental health

In our instalment for last week, we discussed how October was peppered with important days on the international calendar. Yet another important day on the calendar is World Mental Health Day, which is observed on the 10^th of October every year. Its objective is raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health. The main mental health issues afflicting the world are anxiety, depression, panic disorder, phobia, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others. Unfortunately mental health issues are exceptionally misunderstood in the African context. Affected individuals are usually shunned and labelled as being affected by vengeful spirits or demonic possession. Because of these misconceptions, people are not always willing to seek help or speak out in the event of affliction. Most mental illnesses are treatable or controllable.

When mental illnesses go untreated, it has an adverse impact on the quality of lives of those affected, and an over spilling effect on their families, friends, colleagues, how they perform at work and all spheres of their lives. At their worst, they result in loss of life, either when those with more aggressive conditions kill or hurt other people or take their own lives. According to World Health Organisation statistics, Eight hundred thousand people die from suicide globally each year - one death every 40 seconds. That’s an astounding figure for something that is preventable.

This past week a young Maphaleni man tried to hang himself but relatives cut the rope before he could die. They spoke to him and told him not to kill himself, but shortly after that he shot himself dead. Experts say anyone that has tried to commit suicide should be taken for professional medical care, even if they appear to have recovered from being suicidal.  How many times have we heard of stories of people who were battling certain mental conditions ending up taking lives, either their own or others’, after defaulting on treatment? This is certainly not to imply all people with mental health conditions are likely to act that way.

Sometimes people develop mental health problems following catastrophic events in their lives such as rape, robbery, failed relationships, loss of a loved one, loss of employment, and various others. In his statement to commemorate World Mental Health Day, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said, “Let us all show compassion and empathy for those who have survived a crisis and make sure they can access the help they need, for as long as they require it.” on the same day, WHO kicked off a year-long campaign to combat depression, called Depression: Let’s talk. With good conversation and positive action come solutions.

We encourage all Dups customers and everyone else to take care of their mental health by speaking out or seeking professional help when they feel overwhelmed, nipping problems in the bud so that they don’t become insurmountable due to lack of timeous action, trying to have a more positive outlook to life, exercising (it has been proven to conquer mild depression), and spending time with people that bring out the best in us.

As an organisation that advocates for dignity in life and death, Dups joins the world in supporting those that have mental health conditions, and encourages them to seek prompt treatment. This would help them be contributing members of society and living life as they should – with zeal and zest. We also urge everyone to be supportive, not discriminative, of those in their circles with mental health problems. We rise by lifting others.

To find out about all Dups products and services, call us on 2505 2028. You can also pay us a visit at our offices in Manzini, Matata, Matsapha, Simunye, Nhlangano, Mbabane, Piggs Peak and Siteki. Alternatively, you can send queries to info@dupsgroup.com, www.facebook.com/dups or on Twitter @dupsinsurance.

                                                                                                                                            

Happy Women's Months from Dups!

Happy Women’s Month to all you beautiful women in the kingdom. August is regarded a women’s month in South Africa in commemoration of the 20 000 women who marched to Union Buildings in August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. The month is now a representation of women’s strength of character. Sadly, this celebration comes against the backdrop of several acts of violence involving women –many women getting murdered by men who, even after the deed, still claim to love the slain women, women murdering men they claim to love, women abusing helpless children, and last but not least, women committing acts of violence on themselves by taking their own lives. This is all quite unfortunate as it is avoidable.

This week we would just like to celebrate all the strong women holding it together to keep their families’ heads above water against all odds. They might be holding top executive jobs, selling vegetables at the market, or just looking after their families at home. These are all positive contributions that keep families and the nation nurtured. Remind us again who called women “the weaker sex!” Indications all around us show us that many of them are actually solid as rocks. There are many grannies who should be resting and enjoying their twilight years, but are scrapping around to feed, clothe and educate hungry orphaned grandchildren. We salute you for your resilience. There are also many single mothers raising their offspring by themselves after getting widowed or after the children’s dads ran for the hills, mothers raising children with disabilities, we take our hats off to you.

As human beings, women need companionship. That’s what God and nature call for. The companionship, however, must be wholesome. A person who makes your life miserable, leaves you feeling shortchanged or puts your life under any form of threat is not a companion. That person does not deserve your attention. It is always a sad day when we read stories of women who die at the hands of their partners, especially after there had been red flags throughout their relationship that their lives were under threat. Think of the school girl that got murdered by her boyfriend in June after telling her friends that he had promised to kill her, yet she still walked away with him and lost her life. Women are known for their big hearts that overflow with love. Love, but be willing to accept it when things go south. Your love for someone should not be the reason why you should stop existing (as when women commit suicide following the collapse of a relationship or get murdered by a violent partner), or why the other person must stop existing (as when women murder men who don’t reciprocate their love.) Life is too sacred to be wasted like that.

There is a message that ladies share a lot on social media which reads: “A strong woman knows how to keep her life in order. Even with tears in her eyes, she still manages to say, “I’m OK,” with a smile.” Don’t say you’re OK when you’re not, because when you bottle emotions up, one day they bubble up and explode, like when you shake a bottle of Coke. Talk to someone who cares. There are organisations available to help women in distress.

Should you find yourself all alone, don’t bury your head in the sand. Show up and make your mark in the world. Regardless of the circumstances, learn a new skill this month to celebrate your womanhood. Love yourself and others. Pray. Have faith. Get a funeral policy from Dups. 

Dups Properties - Swaziland's utility hub

In a previous installment of this column, we discussed the Dups Loyalty Card, and promised that we would give you a breakdown of how it can benefit you. We highlighted the many companies that fall under Dups Holdings. For many, our name is only associated with funeral policies and the funeral home, and we hope this article, and others to follow, will help shed some light on other outstanding activities that we are involved in.

Today we will zero in on Dups Properties, a place where a wide array of services are provided. Dups Properties is responsible for rental properties such as houses, flats and shops as well as construction. Also, if you ever need to hire construction, maintenance or other equipment such as concrete mixers, welding machines, and flood lights, among others, Dups Properties is the place to go.  We rent out catering paraphernalia like tents, chairs, tables, gas stoves, big steel pots, mobile flushable and pit toilets, and a lot more other things. The flushable toilets are the ones with an installed cistern, while with the pit ones, you would be getting the shelter to place around a pit that has been dug on the ground.

Dups Properties also provides plumbing, tiling and carpentry services, not just for buildings belonging to Dups or Dups policy holders, but also to the general public. There’s nothing as distressing as having a blocked toilet or burst water pipe at home or at the office and not knowing who to turn to. Well, now you know!

Our carpentry workshop is where exquisite furniture and fittings are made. The advantage of coming to our workshop over walking into a random shop is that our furniture, be it office desks and cupboards, chests of drawers, cots, is tailor-made to suit your needs. You can even bring in a picture of something you would like or give specifications, our proficient carpenters will deliver. As you may well know already, there are various types of wood that are used to make furniture. You’re free to choose the wood you want, depending on availability and the depth of your pocket.

Outrite Signs is the other arm nestled under Dups Properties. This is where poster-size pictures, banners, billboards, signs and graphics are made.

We hope you’ve been able to see that all the services that Dups Properties provides are basic daily services. If you were a Dups policy holder and came to us for all these services carrying your Dups Loyalty Card, we offer up to 10% discount on some of our products and services. You would also be able to get discounts with other Dups Holdings subsidiary companies. These are tough times and you need to pinch pennies wherever you can.  If you haven’t collected your loyalty card yet, you are missing out on an opportunity to cut costs. Get in touch with us and collect your card. The loyalty card is an electronic smart card similar in appearance to a bank debit card.  Upon being swiped, we at Dups can instantly access information on your personalized portfolio with us, from the insurance cover you have with us, to your purchasing preferences, and what Dups services you are utilizing.

Because of space constraints, we will not be able to do justice to everything you can get from Dups Properties here, but if you are ever in need of specific equipment for construction, maintenance, plumbing, or carpentry, just come to us and you will find it. We will also inform you about the goods and services the company offers on our social media pages, so be sure to visit. You can send queries to info@dupsgroup.com, www.facebook.com/dups or on Twitter @dupsinsurance. Alternatively, you can call us on 2505 2028 to find out more about Dups products and services. Feel free to also pay us a visit at our offices in Manzini, Matata, Matsapha, Simunye, Nhlangano, Mbabane, Piggs Peak and Siteki.

Dups Loyalty Card Makes Everyday Look Like Christmas

In December last year, Dups Holdings launched the loyalty card program with a client rewards program. The loyalty card is an electronic smart card similar in appearance to a bank debit card.  Upon being swiped, we at Dups can instantly access information on your personalized portfolio with us, from the insurance cover you have with us, to your purchasing preferences, and what Dups services you are utilizing.

We offer loyalty cards holders up to 10% discount on some of the products and services provided by the Dups Holdings subsidiary companies.  The card entitles the holder to a number of instant benefits from these companies.

Over the past few months we have been rolling out the new card, which replaces the old Dups card. We are pleased to know that our clients have been very receptive of it. Who wouldn’t be? We all like bargains and are always game for anything that gives us a chance to save through discounted rates, especially in these difficult times.  Those with retail loyalty cards know the thrill of being told you’re paying less for something because you’ve accumulated points that allow you to get a discount. You’ve done your calculations and know you have to pay E150, and you’re told, “No, you’re paying E120 because your loyalty card has enabled you to get a discount.” And just like that you have some extra cash to buy other essential commodities for your family, or spoil yourself with something you were pining for. That’s the feeling we want you to have when you use your Dups loyalty card.

There are some, of course, that have dragged their feet a little in coming to swap their old cards for the loyalty card. We believe this could be because they might not really be aware of how the new card is supposed to benefit them. Our reputation as the best funeral insurance provider is unprecedented, but that’s not the only thing we do best. The funeral insurance, being our most known occupation, sometimes steals the thunder from the other enterprises within our stable. For that reason, in the next few weeks, we will take you through the activities of the other companies that fall under Dups Holdings. It is the services of these companies that will result in you getting discounted rates when you use your loyalty card.

Just to give you the heads up on what is to be discussed in subsequent instalments, there are five companies operating under Dups Holdings, namely Dups Direct Insurance, Dups Properties, Outrite Signs, Dups Herbal, Dups Financial solutions, Liyandza Family Trust, United General Insurance, and the much known Dups Funeral Home and Crematorium.

Here is brief description of some services you can access from our companies in order to benefit from the loyalty program.  Under Dups Properties you can access accommodation catering, electrical, plumbing, building, carpentry and maintenance services.  Dups Funeral Home and Crematorium takes care of all your funeral needs which include tombstones, crematorium, ash urns, and repatriation, among others. If you believe in, or would like to try out homeopathic remedies, Dups Herbal is the place to go. Outrite Signs is responsible for the creation of posters, billboards, banners, signage, printing, and other related services.  We want to be your one-stop-shop for all the basic services you may need on a day-to-day basis, and through the loyalty programme, we will ensure that you don’t walk away empty handed.

Please follow our Facebook page www.facebook.com/dups.  Our vibrant team from the marketing department works hard to respond to all your queries, keeps you up to date with current promotions, and shares all the news you should know from our stable. You can also call us on 2505 2028 to find out more about the loyalty card program as well as all our products and services, or visit us at our offices in Manzini, Matata, Matsapha, Simunye, Nhlangano, Mbabane, Piggs Peak and Siteki. Alternatively, you can send queries to info@dupsgroup.com, or on Twitter @dupsinsurance.